12 March 2022 12:00 am Views - 94
By Lakmal Sooriyagoda
A senior lawyer appearing in a magisterial inquiry into the questionable last will of late Miss Ceylon Jennifer Ingleton alleged that the prosecution has failed to take any further investigation into the incident since the last case date. On a previous occasion, Colombo Additional Magistrate Bandara Nelundeniya observed that court would not hesitate to report to the IGP, if the Colombo Fraud Investigation Bureau failed to conduct a comprehensive investigation into this incident.
The Colombo Fraud Investigation Bureau conducting investigations had given an undertaking to produce a medical report in order to ascertain the medical capacity of Mrs. Ingleton when she signed her questionable last will.
Senior Counsel Ian Fernando appearing with counsel Ushira Dharmaratne instructed by Derek Fernando Associates for the aggrieved party Anthony Hawke, being the step-brother of Mrs. Ingleton who is presently residing in London informed Court that the case is due for summons to be issued on the relevant medical experts to assess whether late Mrs. Ingleton was in a fit and proper mental condition when she signed the purported last will, wedding certificate, and the power of attorney.
Meanwhile, Senior Counsel T. B. Ekanayake made his representation on behalf of his wife, a lady doctor who has been purportedly unduly investigated by the Fraud Bureau. The Senior Counsel took up the objection that the due procedure has not been followed when the lady doctor was questioned. He further stated that he has made complaints to relevant authorities informing of the said undue investigation. The Senior Counsel further made a representation stating that he requires the relevant SSP in charge of the Unit and his subordinate who are handling the case be summoned to court on the next case date, 15th of March.
The suspect, Sujeewa Jayathileke was not present in Court but he was represented by his Counsel in Court.
Defence Counsel Chamin Jayasinghe informed court that the suspect’s sister has been shot and killed. The Court ordered the suspect’s counsel to set forth an undertaking that he shall bring the suspect on the next case date, 15th March 2022.
Meanwhile, the Court further ordered that the SSP of Fraud Bureau currently in charge of the matter be summoned to the Court on the next case date to ascertain whether the Fraud Bureau has taken a keen and due interest in the current case and whether the progress of the investigation by the Fraud Bureau has been adequate and sufficient.
Jennifer Ingleton (nee Labrooy) was crowned Miss Ceylon in 1962 and passed away on 17th July 2020 after a sickness at her residence in Cotta Terrace, Borella. She was looked after by the suspect Sujeewa Jayathileke and a lady by the name of Kurulu who were not the blood relations of her family. It was purportedly said that Jennifer Ingleton had bequeathed all her properties to Sujeewa Jayathileke. The suspicion occurred in the normal circumstances due to Ingleton’s friends and well-wishers not being allowed to visit her when she was residing at her residence.
Jennifer’s half-brother and a sister-in-law had complained to the Colombo Fraud Bureau over the suspicious last will and the testaments alleged to have been signed by Jennifer, a 78-year-old widow, without any children and any relations living in Sri Lanka. Jennifer had died under suspicious circumstances according to her brother, presently living in England.
The half-brother had alleged that she could have been saved if proper attention and treatment was given. He said the chaperon who looked after her had not sought medical assistance deliberately to get hold of her assets in Sri Lanka.