Cell phone rings in court: HC suspends lower court sentence

The Kandy High Court has suspended a onemonth prison sentence a magistrate imposed on a man after his mobile phone reportedly rang while the court was in session.

Kanishka Dilshan Fernando obtained the reprieve when his revision application came before Kandy's High Court judge Sarojini Kusala Weerawardene.

Mr. Fernando's attorney Saman Thantrige told the High Court judge that the Matale magistrate had imposed the sentence on his client without reading out the charges.

He told Court that if there had been a charge, then under Section 136(c) of the Code of Criminal Procedure Act, the magistrate should not hear the case.

After hearing the submissions, Judge Weerawardene suspended the sentence till the case is taken up again on August 23. She issued notice on the Matale Magistrate's Court Police Officer and the Attorney General.