Ignorance of law excuses no one

Lady Justice stands with her blindfold on, holding a sword in one hand and a balance in another. She represents the Roman personification of justice and her blindfold demonstrates her impartiality: her balance is even, and her hand on the sword will dispense justice only after the rule of law has been served, after lawyers make their cases before her.   

Having a good understanding about laws is important for a society as it serves as a norm of conduct for citizens.To be aware of one’s rights and to be sensitive to those of others, is just a concomitant to learning law.Without law there would be chaos and it would be survival of the fittest which is not an ideal lifestyle for most part. Importantly, law is not just for lawyers or in the courtroom. It affects all aspects of society.   

With the purpose of creating more awareness among the public on laws in Sri Lanka, the Pro Bono Committee of the Law Students’ Association of Sri Lanka initiated a series of trilingual legal discussions. The following article is based on the discussion on “Crime and Law”, with Attorneys-at-Law: Mr. Nalinda Indatissa PC (Practicing Criminal Lawyer and Advisor at Colombo School of Business and Management), Mr. Prasantha Lal De Alwis PC (Consul General for Seychelles in Sri Lanka and a visiting lecturer at the Faculty of Law, University of Colombo) and Mr. Kanagasabai Shanmugaratnam Ratnavel (practicing in the fields of Public and International Law, Criminal Law & Human Rights Law. He was the President of Colombo law society in 2005)

What is a crime?

A crime is an offence committed against the entire society. When a person upsets the social order it constitutes a crime. The State takes the responsibility of punishing the person, for doing the wrong or to compensate the person who has been wronged.   

"When a person upsets the social order it constitutes a crime. The State takes the responsibility of punishing the person, for doing the wrong or to compensate the person who has been wronged"

Could we elaborate on the types of crime?

The basic accepted school of thought is that a crime can be divided into personal crimes, property crimes, inchoate crimes, statutory crimes and financial crimes.   
Personal crimes are, assault of a person, kidnapping and domestic crime where people in the household are affected.   

Property crime is more serious in nature; for example, if somebody writes a forged deed for a property owned by another person - forgery of a document where it says it has been represented by person where it has not been. In theft although only one party is affected, society looks down upon such activity because there is psychosis in permitting theft to take place. Robbery and Extortion are more serious property crimes.   

Statutory crimes are not orthodox crimes but those that you come across, with the development of Chemistry and society. The drugs related crime under the Provisions of Poisons, Opium and Drugs Act, possession of certain chemical substances were not known to the society prior to the development that took place. The possession of it alone is considered a crime. These crimes affect the entire fabric of society. Then you get alcohol related offences, such as drunk driving and manufacturing and possession of illicit liquor.   

"It is a fundamental right that the person arrested ought to know the reasons for an arrest. In the instance where a person is trying to prevent the arrest, you could use minimum force to cause the arrest"

Financial crimes involves moveable property.When a person is in possession of a property he either probates a property or he uses the property in violation of the entrustment that it becomes a criminal breach of trust. A criminal misappropriation; cheating, occurs where a representation is made and get someone to deliver some property. Those are the olden day financial crimes. With the development of society and international trade, crime has become transnational. So we have crimes like terrorist financing or money laundering, where people commit crimes of bribery, corruption or exchange control violation and that ill-gotten money is invested in the financial system of a different country. Today there are computer crimes, for example, entering a data base of a bank or company and you give a command to transfer some money to a different account. Or you intercept two parties engaged in international crimes.   

Inchoate crimes – aiding and abetting any of the principal offences or conspiracy to commit any of the principal offences. This includes attempt to commit offences.   
Any act against the state or society we live is considered a crime.   

"Until a person is proven guilty, he is presumed to be innocent. The prosecution will have to establish beyond reasonable doubt that the accused is guilty of the offence that he is charged with"

How can an arrest be made?

When we know a crime has been committed, we go to the police. They are the most common forms of peace officers that we know of. A peace officer is the word for a legally recognised law enforcement officer. First you make a complaint to the police officer, he will analyse the material available and see whether there can be a reasonable suspicion where an offence can be made out. Once a reasonable suspicion has been made, the police officer will see whether the offence revealed is an offence where a person can be arrested without a warrant. A person can be arrested without a warrant in more serious offences.   

Time is insufficient for the police officer to obtain a warrant from the magistrate, because the damage that can be caused to the society is great if the arrest was not made. The law has recognised these serious offences in Schedule 1 of the Criminal Procedure Code. If it’s not a cognisable offence, he has to report the facts to the magistrate and perhaps the magistrate may need some evidence to satisfy himself and whether there is a reason to give a warrant of arrest. Once a warrant is issued, the arrest can be made.   

There are 2 ways of causing arrest: if it is a cognisable offence the arrest can be made without a warrant and produce the person in court. If it is a non-cognisable offence, we have to go to the Magistrates Court, report facts, satisfy the magistrate to obtain a warrant and perform the arrest.   

"Today there are computer crimes, for example, entering a data base of a bank or company and you give a command to transfer some money to a different account. Or you intercept two parties engaged in international crimes"

  Q     Other than the Police, who else can make an arrest?

The Gramasevakas, in the good olden days, were given police powers. Wild life officers under the Wild Life Act who perform police duties. Under the Custom Ordinance, there are custom officers, Forest Ordinance- forest officers and under the Food Act – the PHIs. They are also termed as Peace Officers.   

  Q     Does the person performing arrest state reasons when the arrest is made?

You have to make the arrest in accordance to the Constitution and the Code of Criminal Procedure Act. It is a fundamental right that the person arrested ought to know the reasons for an arrest. In the instance where a person is trying to prevent the arrest, you could use minimum force to cause the arrest.   

  Q     What does minimum force mean?

Sufficient force required to arrest a person can be deployed but you cannot use more force than it is reasonably necessary.   

  Q     When a person is investigated, should a lawyer be present?

S. 41 Judicature Act states, a person has the right to represent his client in any court of law or any institution established for the administration of justice.   

  Q     What is the duty owed by the police towards a person held under custody?

According to Article 11 of the Constitution they should not be subjected to cruel and inhumane degrading treatment. They owe a duty not to inflict bodily or mental harm.

  Q     Art 13, speaks of presumption of innocence but the general public tends to brand a person guilty the moment they hear it on the news. Can you tell us how the Law looks at it?

Article 13(5) states, until a person is proven guilty, he is presumed to be innocent. The prosecution will have to establish beyond reasonable doubt that the accused is guilty of the offence that he is charged with. Today what happens is, there is media coverage before a trial and it puts forward a superficial theory without any cross examinations. They do not dwell into the credibility of the witness. The evidence has to be investigated properly for there to be justice.   

  Q     Is contempt of court a criminal offence?

Anybody trying to interfere with the administration of justice would be committing the offence of contempt of court. It is a criminal offence and they will be sent to prison.   

  Q     If the police does not accept the complaint what action can be taken?

Police can investigate only criminal complaints and not civil. So if they refuse to accept a criminal complaint, you can complain to the IGP, the Human Rights Commission or you can go to the Court of Appeal.   
The complete discussion is available on our YouTube channel ‘Law Students Association of Sri Lanka’, in all three languages. 

Zeenath Zakir
Pro bono Secretary 2020-2021