The Wattala Magistrate’s Court today ordered the remand of the five suspects including former Minister Johnston Fernando and his two sons, who were arrested by the Police Financial Crimes Investigation Division, until January 23.
However, when the case was called, former Minister Johnston Fernando and his two sons did not appear in court directly. The Additional Magistrate has remanded the suspects after verifying their identities through WhatsApp technology.
Although the lawyers appearing for Johnston Fernando requested the court to release him on bail, the Magistrate rejected the request and ordered the suspects to be remanded.
The order was issued in connection with the allegation that former Minister Johnston Fernando, when he was the Minister of Cooperatives and Internal Trade, caused a loss of Rs. 250,000 to the government by using a Sathosa lorry for work at an ethanol company that allegedly belonged to him.
The former Minister and his two children were arrested on the instructions given by the Attorney General to the Police Financial Crimes Investigation Division.