LNP – Bail refused for Rishad’s wife and her father for the third time

Bail applications filed on behalf of the wife of Parliamentarian Rishad Bathiudeen and her father were today rejected by Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court, for the third consecutive time.

In a motion, Defence Counsel sought bail for the two suspects on the ground that they have not been vaccinated against COVID-19.

Defence Counsel appearing on behalf of Ayesha Sihabdeen, the wife of Rishad Bathiudeen told that his client’s two children are currently in the custody of her mother and her mother has tested positive for COVID-19 a few days ago.

He moved Court that these facts be considered to release the suspects on bail. Taking into consideration the facts, the Colombo Additional Magistrate decided to reject the bail applications filed on behalf of the two suspects. On August 23, four suspects including the wife of MP Rishad Bathiudeen, her father and her brother were ordered to be further remanded till September 6 by Colombo Additional Magistrate Rajindra Jayasuriya.

Former Minister Rishad Bathiudeen has been named as the fifth suspect in this case. Bathiudeen is currently held in remand custody in connection with the Easter Sunday attacks. The Court was informed that there are several discrepancies between the first and second post mortem reports about 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.(