"Those in prison are harassing me!" -- Johnny to go to Human Rights

"Those in prison are harassing me!" -- Johnny to go to Human Rights

Having completed parliamentary proceedings, UPFA member of parliament, Mr. Johnston Fernando was taken to Kegalla Prison last Friday (12) where he had been subjected to harassment and even his dress has come under severe inspection and as a result the parliamentarian is preparing to complain to Human Rights Commission against this procedure, it is reported.

While Mr. Johnston Fernando was detained outside for a period of about one hour and then subjected

to inspection, all other inmates who were in the cell too were thoroughly searched. Mr. Johnston Fernando against whom the case was filed as having misappropriated items to the tune of 38 lakhs from Yanthampalawa Sathosa branch were subjected to heavy inspection together with the other two suspects, Sathosa Chairman Nalin Fernando's and Shakir Mohommed's underwear as well as luggage of all three of them came into heavy scrutiny by the team of officers.

Apart from that, it is reported that those officers have spoken to other inmates in the cell and had advised them to refrain from giving any help whatsoever to Mr. Johnston Fernando and other suspects. It came to be known that on special orders received by Ministry of Prison Rehabilitation, the aforementioned officers were sent to Kegalla Prison. On inquiring from Additional Secretary of Ministry of Prison, Bandula Jayasingha, what he said was that a special procedure has been launched to check all prisons these days and tat during the past few days a check was conducted in Welikada, Mahara, Kalutara, Negombo and about ten other prisons by security officers and on a sudden raid about hundred and fifty mobile phones were taken into custody.

He further said that it was as a part of that work-procedure that the prison cell where the three suspects including Mr. Johnston Fernando were detained were subjected to a search during the past few days and that the said check was not carried out on purpose by targetting parliamentarian Johnston Fernando or anybody else for that matter.