Fraud Bureau yet to obtain questionable last will of late Miss Ceylon Jennifer Ingleton

The Colombo Fraud Investigation Bureau has informed Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court that they have not been able to obtain several documents including the purported last will of late Miss Ceylon 1962 Jennifer Ingleton (nee Labrooy) and her marriage certificate from Colombo District Court, as a part of a magisterial inquiry.

The Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court had earlier issued an order directing the Fraud Bureau that the purported last will of late Miss Ceylon be obtained from the Colombo District Court for the purpose of obtaining an analytical report from the Government Analyst’s Department.

  The court had issued this order consequent to a request made by Senior Counsel Ian Fernando who appeared for the aggrieved party, Anthony Hawke, being the step-brother of Mrs. Ingleton, who is presently residing in London. When the magisterial inquiry into the alleged forged last will of Jennifer Ingleton was called before Colombo Additional Magistrate Bandara Nelumdeniya further hearing into the matter fixed for December 7.

Jennifer Ingleton (nee Labrooy) was crowned Miss Ceylon in 1962 and passed away on 17th July 2020 after a sickness at her residence in Cotta Terrace, Borella. She was looked after by the suspect Sujeewa Jayathileke and one lady by the name of Kurulu who were not the blood relations of her family. It was purportedly said that Jennifer Ingleton had bequeathed all her properties to Sujeewa Jayathileke. The suspicion occurred in the normal circumstances due to Ingleton’s friends and well-wishers not being allowed to visit her when she was residing at her residence.

The prosecution is expecting to refer the said last will to the scrutiny of the Government Examiner of Questioned Documents to analyze the authenticity or whether the said document is a forged last will or not. The Colombo Fraud Bureau is conducting further investigations.

Jennifer’s half-brother and a sister-in-law had complained to the Colombo Fraud Bureau over the suspicious Last Will and the testaments alleged to have been signed by Jennifer, a 78-year-old widow, without any children and any relations living in Sri Lanka. Jennifer had died under suspicious circumstances according to her brother, presently living in England.   

The half-brother had alleged that she could have been saved if proper attention and treatment was given. He said the chaperon who looked after her had not sought medical assistance deliberately to get hold of her assets in Sri Lanka.

Senior Counsel Ian Fernando with Counsel Seneth Chamara Ranasinghe instructed by Derek Fernando Associates appeared for the prosecution. Sergeant Wijeratne appeared for the Colombo Fraud Investigation Bureau. The suspect was represented by Counsel Chamin Jayasinghe. (Lakmal Sooriyagoda)