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, is being investigated for involuntary manslaughter.
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 had been transferred to another location with the waste, and got buried under a pile of waste.
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.
He was presented before the Criminal Court for his remand hearing on Sunday.
While the police have not publicly stated whether they believe the death had been intentional or not, the court order for Menika’s remand shows the police suspect him of involuntary manslaughter, and not murder with intent.
He has been remanded in police custody for seven days.
The tragic death has sparked public discourse over workplace safety of expatriate workers, especially laborers.