Johnston and two others released from corruption case

• Three accused were ordered to be released, taking into consideration the preliminary  objections raised by defence challenging the maintainability of the  indictments

By Lakmal Sooriyagoda   

Former Minister Johnston Fernando and two others were yesterday ordered to be released from a corruption case by the Colombo High Court.  

High Court judge Namal Balalle ordered to release three accused from the case taking into consideration the preliminary objections raised by defence challenging the maintainability of the indictments.  

The Bribery Commission filed this corruption case against former Minister Johnston Fernando, former CWE (Lak Sathosa) Chairman Eraj Fernando and former Minister’s Private Secretary Raj Mohideen Mohammad Sakeer for allegedly causing an unlawful loss to the government by employing the employees of the Cooperative Wholesale Establishment (CWE) for election work during the period 2011.  

The Director General of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption filed this corruption case against three accused under Section 70 of the Bribery Act on four charges.  

The Bribery Commission alleged that the first accused Johnston Fernando had unlawfully employed Sathosa employees for election work during the period 2011, while Minister Johnston Fernando was serving as the Cooperative and Internal Trade Minister. The Bribery Commission had filed five separate cases against the accused regarding this incident.  

•  The Bribery Commission had filed five separate cases against the accused regarding this incident