Shzni Kamardeen reportedly receiving treatment at Mulleriyawa

2026-02-02 - 16:39

Colombo Additional Magistrate Oshada Migara Maharachchi today (02) ordered the release on bail of three suspects, including prominent businessman and Chairman of Prestige Rubbers (Pvt) Ltd, Shzni Kamardeen, who had been remanded over allegations that he stripped a woman employed to look after his children in front of household staff, recorded the incident and circulated the video on social media. Mr Kamardeen, a resident of Borella, who was arrested and produced before court by the Bureau for the Prevention of Abuse of Children and Women, along with two other suspects, alleged to have aided and abetted the offence, Mohammed Rasheed of Eheliyagoda and Mohammed Hanifa, had been held in remand custody. The Magistrate granted bail on two sureties of Rs. 500,000 each per suspect, warning them not to influence witnesses, and ordered them to report to the Bureau for the Prevention of Abuse of Children and Women on the last Sunday of every month. The investigation relates to allegations that the suspect businessman issued death threats to the domestic worker who looked after his children, subjected her to inhuman sexual abuse, and disseminated the footage via social media. When the case was taken up, police informed court that further investigations were ongoing and requested that the suspects be remanded. In accordance with an order made at the previous hearing, prison authorities submitted a medical report to the court regarding the suspect’s mental condition. Appearing for the suspect, President’s Counsel Anuja Premaratne submitted that the woman concerned had not made an initial complaint against the main suspect. He further stated that the incident in question had occurred in October last year and that statements from the woman had been recorded only two months later. Counsel also informed court that the suspect is receiving treatment for his mental condition at the Mulleriyawa Hospital, and requested bail considering his mental health and the welfare of his two young children. After considering submissions from both sides, the Magistrate granted bail to all three suspects. In addition to the two sureties of Rs. 500,000 each, the Magistrate imposed a foreign travel ban on the suspects and reiterated the order to report to the Bureau for the Prevention of Abuse of Children and Women on the last Sunday of every month. Police were directed to submit a progress report on the investigations to the court on 16 March. Investigations are being conducted on the instructions of Deputy Inspector General of Police Darshika Kumari, in charge of the Child and Women Abuse Prevention and Investigation Division.