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Death of Bathiudeen residence domestic: AG’s Dept. raises suspicions over scene of the crime
Evidence from the scene, where the 16-year-old domestic aide who worked at MP Rishad Bathiudeen’s residence, is said to have sustained burn injuries has led to suspicions that the location where the incident is said to have occurred may have been deliberately changed, the Attorney General’s (AG) Department told the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court this week.
Senior Deputy Solicitor General (SDSG) Dileepa Peiris told court that investigators had found the lid of the bottle containing kerosene oil at the scene placed next to it and the entire scene had been far too neat to suggest it had been a spontaneous incident. This has raised suspicions whether an incident had occurred elsewhere in the house and the location had been changed to throw off suspicion.
Further suspicion has been raised when taking into account that it had taken two hours since the alleged incident occurred for the inmates of the house to admit the victim to hospital, though statements made to police indicate that there were two drivers and two vehicles at the house during this time, he further claimed.
Meanwhile, the brother of the victim has told police that he had gone to Mr Bathiudeen’s residence on July 4, the day after the incident and had been met by someone wearing an attire similar to that of the police, who advised him not to pursue the matter further with the police and to settle it quietly.
SDSG Peiris further told Colombo Additional Magistrate Rajindra Jayasuriya the victim had been employed at the Bathiudeen residence for about four months and that her father had visited the residence several times to take her home following complaints by the victim that she was being ill-treated. However, the inmates had turned him away. They had also paid more than the agreed amount as her fee to her family each month and had allegedly used this as a tactic to dissuade the parents from taking her home, pointing out that she had not yet worked enough to satisfy the extra amount paid for her.
The SDSG Peiris stated that based on what had been uncovered so far, there is evidence that the deceased had been a victim of human trafficking. He noted that as an MP, Mr Bathiudeen also should have known that employing a minor in this manner is illegal as he is a representative of the legislature, which passes such laws.
The Police Child & Women Bureau meanwhile, informed the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court that investigations were ongoing to establish whether the victim had taken her own life, was the victim of an accident, or whether she had been murdered as a means of concealing evidence after being abused.
The victim was admitted to the Emergency Treatment Unit of the Colombo National Hospital on July 3 after suffering from burn injuries and had succumbed on July 15 while undergoing treatment. A medical report submitted in court has stated that the victim bore signs consistent with sexual assault.
Mr Bathiudeen’s wife, her father, brother and the broker who brought the victim to work as a domestic aide at the house were all remanded till August 9 after being produced in the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
SDSG Dileepa Peiris along with State Counsel Hansa Abeyratne appeared for the AG.
Attorney at law Sanjaya Gamage appearing for the first accused Ponniha Bandaram said that his client was only helping people by providing domestic aides from the upcountry and the practice of people gong to work in houses was common in the upcountry.
He said that it was the mother of the victim who had called over and asked to help find a job for her daughter. He said during the past six months Rs 60,000 was paid on two occasions and a further amount was requested when the brother fell ill. He said in total Rs 200,000 had been paid.
He said this was not the first occasion when such a case had gained prominence due to politics.
Anuja Premaratne, PC appearing for the second accused Mohamed Sihabdeen said that though the parents claimed they were not allowed to speak to the daughter, according to available information they had not come to the house. “When travelling between provinces was banned how did they come? Weren’t the COVID rules applicable to them,” he questioned.
He also said the child had been conscious on admission to hospital and she had spoken to the police.
Anil Silva, PC appearing for the third suspect Zihabdeen Iysa (Mr Bathiudeen’s wife) said that his client was treated badly at the Kirulapone police and she is a person who had undergone a surgery in November and it was after that the domestic aide was called in for service.
Police Spokesman Senior Deputy Inspector General (SDIG) of Police Ajith Rohana said last evening that the post-mortem examination lasted for nearly nine hours. The remains were first subjected to a CT scan while samples were also taken from them for further laboratory tests. The exhumed remains will remain at the mortuary of the Peradeniya Teaching Hospital until the final report of the second post-mortem examination is submitted, he further said.