Sri Lanka, Aug. 3 -- The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has formally suspended the duties of Magistrate and District Judge of Moratuwa Thilina Gamage, who is now under investigation over renewed allegations concerning his involvement in a high profile elephant trafficking case.

On Friday (August 1) Magistrate Gamage received a written notification from the JSC, granting him 21 days to respond to the charges filed against him. The suspension formally came into effect yesterday (2), suspending his official functions at the Moratuwa District Court.

The updated disciplinary proceedings follow the re-submission of a charge sheet by the JSC in June alleging Gamage's illegal possession of a baby elephant calf, named Sakura, possibly under a...