Fugitive wanted for bigamy arrested after crocodile attack

A bizarre incident was reported yesterday (8) at the Kurunegala Additional Magistrate's Court, where a man who had been evading the judiciary for a long period on bigamy charges was arrested after sustaining severe injuries in a crocodile attack.

The individual, a resident of Kirindiwela, Gampaha, was arrested by officers of the Kurunegala Division Fraud Investigation Unit and produced before the court.

Police informed the court that a bigamy case was filed against the suspect at the Kurunegala Court, and an open warrant for his arrest had been issued way back in 2006 due to his failure to appear in court.

The suspect had spent a long time in hiding in various areas. Police stated that on 28 September, while he was in the Horowpathana area, he was attacked by a crocodile while bathing in a tank. The attack caused severe injuries to his right leg and his private parts.

When the long-absent suspect was produced, the court found that the original case file could not be located. Kurunegala Additional Magistrate ordered the creation of a fresh substitute case file to proceed with the hearing.

Appearing for the suspect, Attorney-at-Law Kirthi G. Dunusiṁha presented medical reports detailing the crocodile attack injuries. Dunusigha drew attention to the critical nature of the injuries, arguing that since the most vital parts of his client’s body had been consumed by the crocodile, "neither the original marriage nor the bigamous marriage is of any use to him now."

The lawyer also pointed out that the sutures for the injuries had not yet been removed and pleaded with the court to grant bail considering his client's condition.

Considering the facts presented, the Magistrate ordered the suspect's release on two surety bails of Rs. 100,000 each, along with a residential certificate.

The case was scheduled to be recalled on 21 November.