24 July 2021 12:00 am Views - 156
By Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya
Former minister Rishad Bathiudeen’s wife, father-in-law and another were arrested in connection with the death of a 16-year old domestic aide at his residence, the police said.
Besides, Bathiudeen’s brother-in-law was arrested over rape of a 22-year-old domestic helper.
Police Spokesman Senior DIG Ajith Rohana said that Borella Police, the Divisional Children and Women’s Bureau and Colombo South Divisional Crimes Detective Bureau are conducting investigations into the death of the girl at his residence.
He said that Bathiudeen’s wife 46-year old Sheyabdeen Ayesha, her father 70-year-old Mohammed Sheyabdeen and the 60-year old broker who brought the girl to Bathiudeen’s house were arrested after recording statements over the girl’s death.
The girl, a resident of Dayagama Estate, off Talawakelle was admitted to the Colombo National Hospital on July 3 with burn injuries while working as a domestic aide at the former minister’s house and had died on July 15.
The spokesman said that the arrestees would be detained for 72 hours for further interrogation.
He said the Police had recorded over 20 statements from different persons in connection with the death.
Meanwhile, Mr. Rohana said the 20 statements included the statements from two women aged 22 and 32 who served as domestic workers at the former minister’s house. Both women are residents of the Dayagama area.
It was revealed that both women were brought to the MPs residence by the same broker who had taken the 16-year-old girl. Following the questioning, it was revealed that the 22-year old woman was sexually harassed from 2015 to 2019 at the former minister’s residence at Mackenzie Road in Colombo by Bathiudeen’s brother-in-law. Accordingly, the police arrested Sheyabdeen Ismadeen the 44-year old brother-in-law of former minister over the charges of raping the woman. The suspect was to be produced in courts.