The case filed against a 13-year-old girl who allegedly robbed eight coconuts from a nearby garden was withdrawn from the Horana Magistrate’s Court today.
The case was withdrawn by the plaintiff while the Horana Magistrate had ordered that the student in question be informed via notice as the defendant was not present in court.
The magistrate further stated that girl’s education had been gravely effected due to the unnecessary publicity given to the incident by the mass media and emphasized that media should act responsibly regarding issues of such nature.
The grade 8 student had stated that she had stolen the coconuts to sell them as her teacher had asked them bring Rs 800 each to paint the walls of the school.
She said her poor parents were not in a position to raise this sum and hence her decision to sell the coconuts and hand over the proceeds to the teacher.
