Rs. 12.25Bn circulated via Pastor Jerome Fernando’s bank accounts: AG

• Petitioners are seeking an order directing the IGP to immediately arrest  Pastor Jerome
• Investigations were being conducted to ascertain the possible commission  of money laundering offences, in addition to other offences

By Lakmal Sooriyagoda   

The Attorney General informed the Supreme Court yesterday  that investigations have so far revealed that approximately Rs. 12.25  billion have circulated via Pastor Jerome Fernando’s bank accounts.  
Senior Additional Solicitor General Priyanth Nawana  appearing for the Attorney General made this revelation when the two  Fundamental Rights petitions filed relating to Pastor Jerome Fernando  were taken up before the Supreme Court.  

Pastor Jerome Fernando is being investigated under the  Prevention of Money Laundering Act apart from the charges levelled under  ICCPR Act and Penal Code and Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court has  already issued an overseas travel ban against him.  

President’s Counsel Sanjeeva Jayawardena appearing for a  group of religious leaders including Ven. Elle Gunawansa Thera alleged  that his clients do not see adequate progress regarding the  investigation against Pastor Jerome when compared with two other similar  incidents. He said the law enforcement authorities instituted stern  legal action against stand-up comedian Nathasha Edirisooriya and Ven.  Rajangane Saddharathana Thera over making statements that harm religious  harmony. Jayawardena apprised the Supreme Court that the case was  coming up, as on the previous occasion, the Attorney General had  furnished an undertaking that the law has been duly mobilised against  Pastor Jerome, for deliberately insulting the four main religions of the  country and that investigations are continuing and facts have been  reported to the Magistrate’s Court. He stated that his clients do not  see adequate progress.   

 In response, SASG Nawana stated that examination of 11 bank  accounts maintained by Pastor Jerome, has revealed that there have been  transactions of as much as Rs.12.25 billion and that complicated  investigations were being conducted to ascertain the possible commission  of money laundering offences, in addition to other offences. He told  the Court that the investigations had been commenced even prior to  filing these petitions.  
Jayawardena PC stated that in view of this statement made  by the Senior Additional Solicitor General, his clients are satisfied  with the due progress of the legal processes against Pastor Jerome, and he moved that a sufficiently long date be given for mention, in order to  ascertain the further progress in a meaningful manner.  
Meanwhile, President’s Counsel Rienzie Arsecularatne  appearing for Pastor Jerome Fernando informed the Supreme Court that he  was not objecting to carrying out an investigation against his client  under Money Laundering Act.  

Taking into consideration the facts, the Supreme Court  two-judge-bench comprising Justices Shiran Goonaratne and Arjuna  Obeysekara fixed the petitions for October 27, in order to ascertain the  progress of the investigations.  

In their Fundamental Rights petition, a group of religious  leaders are seeking an order directing the IGP to immediately arrest  Pastor Jerome Fernando over his hate comments against religious harmony  in the country.  
However, in a separate application, Pastor Jerome Fernando  is seeking an order preventing police from arresting him in connection  with this controversial Sunday sermon.        

• Pastor Jerome Fernando  is seeking an order preventing police from arresting him in connection  with this controversial Sunday sermon