Death of maid while in Police custody Court orders for a speedy inquiry

By Lakmal Sooriyagoda  

The Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court yesterday ordered the CID (Criminal Investigation Department) to conduct a speedy investigation into the death of a housemaid who died after being arrested by Welikada Police and while undergoing treatment at the Colombo National Hospital.  

The victim, R. Rajkumari, a 42-year-old domestic worker at Sudharma Nethicumara’s house who was taken into Welikada Police custody over alleged theft, died while undergoing treatment at the Colombo National Hospital.   Colombo Additional Magistrate Bandara Ilangasinghe issued an order directing the CID to file a report regarding the ongoing investigation on June 21.   

Meanwhile, the counsel appeared on behalf of the aggrieved party submitted to court that the deceased woman had been admitted to the Colombo National Hospital by Welikada Police after convincing hospital authorities that she was found in a street after falling and being ignored.  Counsel Manjula Pathiraja alleged that the Welikada Police had also failed to follow the due process that police are required to apply when a person was found in a street.   In an affidavit, the husband of the deceased said the death of his wife R. Rajkumari was suspicious and demanded an independent investigation.