Former Minister Rishad Bathiudeen who had been named as the fifth suspect over the death of a 16-year-old domestic aide at his residence was today ordered to be further remanded till October 1 by Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court.
Colombo Additional Magistrate RajindraJayasuriya decided to reject the bail application filed on behalf of the former Minister taking into account his previous condition and the facts presented by the prosecution that investigations into the incident has not been concluded.
Meanwhile, Ayesha Sihabdeen, the spouse of Parliamentarian Rishad Bathiudeen and her father held in remand custody over a period of 50 days were ordered to be released on two sureties of one million rupees each. They were prevented from leaving the country and their passports were ordered to be surrendered to theCourt.
On a previous occasion, the brother-in-law of Parliamentarian Rishad Bathiudeen and the broker who brought the deceased girl to Bathiudeen’s house were also released on bail by the Additional Magistrate.
Former Minister Rishad Bathiudeen was named as the fifth suspect for allegedly aiding and abetting to commit this crime.
Bathiudeen is also currently held in remand custody in connection with the Easter Sunday attacks.
The Court was informed that there are several discrepancies between the first and second post mortem reports about the girl’s death. The second post mortem report has reportedly given an open verdict regarding the death creating uncertainty whether the death was a murder or suicide.
On July 26, the Court had issued an order to exhume the body of the 16-year-old domestic aide of MP Rishad Bathiudeen, who died with burn injuries to perform a fresh post mortem.
The Court had ordered the health authorities to appoint a panel of medical experts to perform a fresh post mortem into the death of the girl, to ascertain whether the death was a murder or suicide.
