Suspect in WAMCO worker’s death accused of attempting to flee country

The Sri Lankan national arrested in connection to the death of a Bangladeshi national, whose body was found in the industrial island of K. Thilafushi two days after he went missing, attempted to flee the country, according to a statement provided by a witness.

Ameen Mia, 24, an employee of the Waste Management Corporation (WAMCO), went missing from Thilafushi on January 26. He was found dead two days later, on January 28.

According to police, Ameen had been at a waste site in Thilafushi in the afternoon of January 26, when he fell after getting hit by the bucket of an excavator that was being used to collect the waste.

Police believe Ameen’s body was transferred to another location with the waste, and got buried under debris.

According to the police, CCTV footage shows the work continued uninterrupted despite the excavator bucket hitting Ameen.

The police have arrested the person who was operating the excavator - 32-year-old Sri Lankan national, Heshan Maduranga Dissanayaka Menika.

Menika, who is suspected of involuntary manslaughter, was presented before the Criminal Court on Sunday with his original seven-day remand period set to expire.

The court order for his remand shows a witness told the police that Menika attempted to flee the country following the incident.

Meanwhile, the police identified Menika as an undocumented worker.

The court found the evidence submitted against him, which include witness statements, the incident report and additional documents, sufficient, and extended his remand by another 10 days.

His current remand period expires on February 18.