Police have commenced an investigation into the death of a female domestic aide of Sudharma Nettikumara, former wife of proprietor of the Salaka Senkada group of companies, and a producer of films and teledramas.
Investigators said that the death of the domestic help occurred while she was under the custody of the Welikada police over a complaint lodged by Sudharma that one of her gold rings with some other jewellery had gone missing and that she suspected the servant had stolen it.
The deceased has been identified as R. Raja Kumari (42) a resident of Nawala Estate Demodara in Badulla.
Sudharama had lodged a complaint with the Welikada police on 11 May that some items including a gold ring had been stolen from her house at Royal Gardens, Rajagiriya and that she suspected domestic help might have stolen them.
The Welikada police took the suspect servant into custody on May 13 and interrogated her at the police station. Police said that the woman had complained of breathing difficulties during the interrogation and she had been admitted to the National Hospital, where she died.
Following the death of the domestic aide, the police commenced a special investigation under Nugegoda Division SSP J.P.S. Jayamaha on the death of the suspect in police custody. Statements of policemen who were on duty on 13 May had been recorded and further investigations are in progress, the police said.
(the Island)
