Criminal Court has increased the remand of the Sri Lankan excavator driver by 45 days in the death of an expatriate at the Waste Management Corporation Limited (WAMCO) site in K. Thilafushi.
The victim, identified as Amin Miya, a 24-year-old Bangladeshi national, died in an incident that occurred on Monday afternoon while an excavator was clearing garbage at the dump site.
According to police, Amin was hit by the teeth of the excavator and fell in another direction along with the trash being moved. His body was later covered by garbage.
Sri Lankan national and excavator operator 32-year old Heshan Maduranga Disanayaka Menika was arrested in connection to the case. He has been charged with involuntary manslaughter.
He initially was served a seven-day remand, with it being increased to 10 days yesterday. When he was produced to the Criminal Court yesterday in order to increase his remand, an additional 45 days was added on.
As per the court order, there is enough evidence to prove the charge against Menika. An incident report and CCTV snapshots show that a death had occurred due to the excavator Menika was operating had collided with an individual, as was stated in the court order.
The order goes on to say that a witness statement was given where Menika had expressed that he wished to flee Maldives and go back to his home nation of Sri Lanka after the incident had occurred.
The police have stated that Menika was working in Maldives without a legal permit.
Police previously said the victim was hit by the excavator’s claw and fell along with garbage being moved at the site, after which his body was covered in trash.
Police said it remains unclear whether the excavator operator was aware of the incident at the time. However, CCTV footage reportedly shows the excavator striking Amin, after which work continued without interruption.
