The Mahawa Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday (11 November) ordered wildlife officers to investigate the fatal shooting of the Kavantissa tusker under the Public Property Act. The court refused bail to the two suspects and remanded them until 25 November.
When the case was called, wildlife officers submitted a further investigation report and a report on the post-mortem findings. Defence lawyers applied for bail on behalf of the two suspects.
The magistrate said in open court that the investigation should proceed under the Public Property Act. By that point, neither wildlife officers nor the complainant had informed the court that the investigation was being conducted under the Act.
The magistrate directed wildlife officers to submit a special report on the investigation at the next hearing. She also instructed them to seek the assistance of the Criminal Investigation Department in handling the prosecution.
