Johnston Fernando to remand prison!

Johnston Fernando to remand prison!

Kurunegala High Court judge Mrs. Menaka Wijeysundera today (3) ordered MP Mr. Johnston Fernando who was accused for misappropriation of funds of Sathosa during the 2015 Presidential election period when he functioned as Minister of Internal Trade Affairs in the Mahinda Rajapaksa regime. Thus, the MP and the other accused were ordered to remain in remand until the case was to be heard and finished. The judge further said that this case would be heard in

court without a break and ordered that all defendents be thus kept in remand prison till the case is over.

It was former Minister of Trade Johnston Fernando, his private secretary Mohommed Zakeer and Sathosa chairman Nalin Fernando who were subject to remand prison. Today when the case was taken up for hearing, a person named Boteju who was the then Accountant at Sathosa had provided testimony. The Attorney General has filed action for having acquired customer goods to the value of approximately 60 lakhs from Sathosa outlets such as Nikaweratiya, Anuradhapura, Wehera and Yanthampalawa without due payment being withheld and instead had been used during the Presidential elections (January 8th, 2015) favourable manner to Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa, the United Public Freedom Alliance and thus misused those government funds.