Three police officers remanded over custodial death of housemaid

The three police officers arrested over their alleged complicity in the custodial death of a housemaid named R. Rajakumari have been remanded until September 11, on the orders of Colombo Magistrate’s Court.

Earlier today (Sept. 01), the trio was produced before Colombo Additional Magistrate Harshana Kekunawala, who ordered them to be referred to an identification parade on September 11.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) officers had escorted the arrested police personnel to court premises with their faces covered.

Presenting facts to the additional magistrate, CID’s Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Meryl Ranjan Lamahewa and others said the three police officers were placed under arrest based on certain details uncovered during the probes.

Three witnesses have confirmed that they are capable of visually identifying the suspects, the CID officers told the court, thus seeking an order to refer the trio to an identification parade.

The defense attorney then requested the additional magistrate to issue orders to respective officials to ensure the safety of his clients while in prison.

The additional magistrate dismissed the request, clarifying that he did not have the authority to issue such orders. He, however, mentioned that he would inform the prison officers of the position of the defendants.

Accordingly, the suspects were ordered to be remanded until September 11.

Meanwhile, on 29 August, the Sub-Inspector of the Welikada Police arrested in connection with the housemaid’s death too was remanded until 11 September, on orders of the Colombo Magistrate’s Court.

41-year-old R. Rajakumari, a resident of Badulla, was arrested on 11 May based on a complaint made by her employer, famed producer Sudharma Nethicumara, claiming that she had stolen gold jewellery belonging to her.

She had later died while in the custody of the Welikada Police. Her relatives raised suspicions, alleging that she had been subjected to assault.

On 25 August, the Colombo Additional Magistrate Harshana Kekunawala ordered the CID to arrest the suspects linked to the housemaid’s death.

The verdict was delivered after careful examination of evidence and the findings in the post-mortem report submitted by the Judicial Medical Officer. Accordingly, the cause of death was ruled as hemorrhagic shock caused by damage to the deceased’s muscles after being attacked with a blunt weapon or similar force.

Further investigations into the incident are conducted by the CID under the supervision of its Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Meryl Ranjan Lamahewa.