SRI LANKA: COUPLE SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR TORTURING AND MURDERING TWO-YEAR-OLD ADOPTED BOY

March 10, 2025:

Colombo High Court Judge Sujeewa Nishshanka, on March 6, 2025 sentenced to death a man and his wife for torturing and murdering a two-year-old boy whom they had adopted.
The convicted individuals, Mohamed Ali Mohamed Ushwan and Mohamed Sipana, aged between 35 and 40, are residents of Maligawatta, Colombo. The Attorney General had filed charges against them, which the prosecution proved beyond reasonable doubt. Despite the defence’s claim that the child’s injuries were accidental or caused by a medical condition, forensic evidence confirmed that he had suffered nearly 90 injuries, including burns from boiling water, as a result of sustained torture at the couple’s home.
The couple argued that hot water had accidentally spilled on the victim and that they had taken him to a private doctor. However, the court noted that if it had been an accident, they would have taken him to the nearby children’s hospital rather than a private hospital. The judge ruled that this was clear evidence of intentional harm.
The incident took place on 1 May 2018. Police launched an investigation after receiving information that the child was to be buried without a post-mortem examination. His body was later presented to a forensic medical officer.
The couple, who had only daughters, took custody of the boy from a woman working in their household, promising to care for him. The biological mother went overseas in search of work and the adoptive mother subjected the child to severe abuse, according to the police.
Senior State Counsel Kalana Kothalawala prosecuted the case on behalf of the Attorney General.
Before sentencing, the court interpreter asked the accused whether they had anything to say. The two defendant maintained their innocence insisting that they had no reason to kill the child.