Court expresses displeasure over lackadaisical attitude of police

Colombo Additional Magistrate Bandara Nelundeniya observed that court would not hesitate to report to the IGP, if Colombo Fraud Investigation Bureau failed to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the magisterial inquiry into the questionable last will of late Miss Ceylon Jennifer Ingleton.

The Colombo Fraud Investigation Bureau conducting investigations into the questionable last will of late Miss Ceylon Jennifer Ingleton had given an undertaking to produce a medical report in order to ascertain the medical capacity of Mrs. Ingleton when she signed her questionable last will. 

However, the court was informed that the prosecution has failed to conduct investigations in line with its previous undertaking to inspect Jennifer’s medical records through a medical practitioner.

Taking into consideration the facts, the Additional Magistrate Bandara Nelundeniya maintained that he would make a recommendation to the IGP requesting to transfer investigation to different police unit, unless police conducted a proper investigation into the incident by next hearing date. Further magisterial inquiry fixed for March 8.

Senior Counsel Ian Fernando  appearing with counsel Ushira Dharmaratne instructed by Derek Fernando Associates for the aggrieved party Anthony Hawke, being the step-brother of Mrs. Ingleton who is presently residing in London made a request to transfer ongoing investigations into different police unit since Fraud Bureau failed to conduct a proper investigation.
 
The officers of the Fraud Bureau had earlier sought to have reports on Ingleton’s medical condition at the time of signing the last will and other such related documents. 

Jennifer Ingleton (nee Labrooy) was crowned Miss Ceylon in 1962 and passed away on 17th July 2020 after an illness 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 Suspect, Sujeewa Jayathileke was not present in Court but he was represented by his Counsel in Court.

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. (Lakmal Sooriyagoda)