Another former domestic accuses Rishad’s brother-in-law of rape

By Norman Palihawadane and Hemantha Randunu

Another 29-year-old former female domestic worker in a statement to the police has accused MP Rishad Bathiudeen’s brother-in-law of raping her at the former’s residence at Bauddhaloka Mawatha.

She has informed Chief Inspector Waruni Bogahawatte that she worked as a domestic aide for five years at the MP’s Colombo residence and she was raped several times by his brother-in-law during that period.

The alleged victim from Kelaniya has told the police that the MP’s brother-in-law had also raped several other women during that period.

The police have so far recorded statements from nine of 11 females who worked at the MP’s residence.

Meanwhile, a court-appointed specialist medical team has conducted the second postmortem on the remains of the teenage domestic worker who died after admission to the Colombo National Hospital with burn injuries suffered while serving at MP Bathiudeen’s house.

The postmortem was carried out over a period of 9 hours from 8.30 am to 5.15 pm on Saturday (July 31) at the Peradeniya Teaching Hospital.

Dr. Jean Perera, Professor of Forensic Medicine at the Faculty of Medicine in the University of Colombo,

Dr. Sameera Gunawardena, Head and Senior Lecturer at the Department of Forensic Medicine of the Faculty of Medicine in the University of Colombo, and Judicial Medical Officer Dr. Prabhath Senasinghe, Specialist in Forensic Medicine, Peradeniya Teaching Hospital were appointed to carry out the relevant postmortem.

Police media spokesperson Senior DIG Ajith Rohana said the forensic team had carried out a CT scan to look for any internal injuries, fractures in the body.

“The post-mortem examination was carried out at length, and samples were taken from various parts of the body. They are to be sent for laboratory tests. After receiving all those reports, a full report will be issued.”

The body will remain in the mortuary of the Peradeniya Teaching Hospital until the report is issued, the Senior DIG said.

The girl, who was residing in the Dayagama area, was 15 years of age when she was brought to the parliamentarian’s residence at Bauddhaloka Mawatha for domestic work last October.