• Magistrate also ordered to obtain fingerprints of the three suspects

By T. Farook Thajudeen 

The Colombo High Court yesterday served indictments on former Minister Johnston Fernando and two others over the corruption case filed against them by the Commission to Investigate Allegation of Bribery or Corruption for engaging Sathosa employees in political activities.  

In this case former Trade Minister Johnston Fernando, former CWE (Lak Sathosa) Chairman Eraj Fernando and Minister Johnston Fernando’s Private Secretary Raj Mohideen Mohammad Zakeer were accused of causing an unlawful loss to the Government by allegedly employing Cooperative Wholesale Establishment (CWE) employees for election work during the period 2011. 

When the case was taken up before High Court Judge Amal Ranaraja the indictment was served on the accused, and they were released on a cash bail of Rs 50,000 with a surety bail of Rs 500,000 with two sureties on each of the surety for the suspects.