By Lakmal Sooriyagoda 

Former Minister Rishad Bathiudeen has been named as the fifth suspect before Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court over the death of 16-year-old domestic aide at his residence. Bathiudeen is currently held in remand custody in connection with the Easter Sunday attacks. 

He was named as the fifth suspect in this case following the request of Deputy Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris. 

Accordingly, Colombo Additional Magistrate Rajindra Jayasuriya issued an order directing the Prison Authorities to produce Bathiudeen in court on September 6. 
Meanwhile, four suspects including the wife of MP Rishad Bathiudeen, her father and her brother who were arrested over the death of a 16-year-old domestic aide were ordered to be further remanded till September 6 by the Additional Magistrate. 
The Additional Magistrate decided to reject the bail applications filed on behalf of four suspects including the wife of Parliamentarian Rishad Bathiudeen. The Additional Magistrate observed that witnesses in the case could be interfered with by the suspects once they were released on bail at this juncture. 
The Court was informed that there are several discrepancies between the first and second post mortem reports pertaining to 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 girl who died at the house of MP Rishad Bathiudeen, 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. 

 BLURB