Legal Action Initiated

The family of Ratnayake Liyanage Wishma Sandamali, a Sri Lankan woman who died while in custody at a Japanese immigration facility in 2021, is escalating its fight for justice. Attorneys for the family announced Thursday that they will file a lawsuit demanding the complete release of security camera footage leading up to Wishma’s death.

The Tragic Case of Wishma Sandamali

• Arrival in Japan: Wishma Sandamali arrived in Japan in 2017 as a student.
• Detention: She was detained in August 2020 for overstaying her visa.
• Death in Custody: Wishma died in March 2021, at age 33, while held at the Nagoya Regional Immigration Services Bureau.
• Cause of Death Dispute: Her death sparked national outrage amid allegations of inadequate medical care.

Family Alleges Negligence

The family contends that Wishma was unlawfully detained and that her death resulted from the denial of essential medical attention. They are pursuing a separate damages claim against the Japanese government.

the Battle Over Security Footage

The heart of the legal battle revolves around access to security camera footage from the Nagoya immigration facility.

• Limited Release: The Japanese government provided a mere five hours of video from 295 hours of security footage.
• Footage Airing: This limited footage was presented in court during June and July 2023 as part of the damages suit.
• Demand for Full Disclosure: Wishma’s family is adamant about obtaining the remaining footage.

Content of Released Footage

The released excerpts paint a grim picture of Wishma’s final days:

• Desperate Pleas: Less than two weeks before her death, footage showed Wishma lying on a bed and begging officers to take her to a hospital after telling them she could not move or eat.
• insensitivity Alleged: Other scenes depicted an officer and nurse cheerfully chatting while tending to Wishma as she moaned in pain.
• Final Moments: On the day she died,an officer tried to wake an unresponsive Wishma after reporting over an intercom that her fingertips felt cold.

Government Cites Security Concerns

Japanese immigration authorities have resisted releasing the remaining footage,arguing that doing so could interfere with public safety and the maintenance of order by revealing details about security systems.

Challenging the Decision

Following a decision dated March 26, in which Japanese immigration authorities rejected the request for additional footage, Wishma’s family plans to challenge this decision in the Tokyo District Court, perhaps in may.