The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery and Corruption filed action against former Minister Johnston Fernando for causing a loss of Rs. 40 million to the State, by using employees of the CWE to carry out his political activities. The case was filed at the Colombo Magistrate Courts today.
Fernando was the minister of Co-operatives and Internal Trade during President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s term. The case will be taken up on June 30, and Fernando was ordered to appear before court at the next hearing.
Fernando already has several other pending cases against him, including a corruption case filed by the Commission for his failure to declare his assets for a period of five years. When the case was taken up in Courts in April this year, Fernando pleaded not guilty. He is currently out on bail for a total of five cases, which has being filed separately for his failure to declare assets from 2010 to 2014.
The Oracle / May 19, 2016
One who acted with absolute impunity . Karma can be a real bitch .
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Ansar / May 19, 2016
Karma can be a bitch. But MY3/Ranil are thorough gentas. So cannot see much justice meted out. They have larger hearts to forgive and forget the criminals who have plundered millions of public money.
May be only natural justice, can punish them.
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Ben Hurling / May 19, 2016
Ansar,
We would be stupid to leave these grave matters entirely in MY3’s, Ranil’s or any other so called “thorough genta’s” hands.
Cheers!
PS:
Then again ours is a nation of very stupid people. Isn’t it? No?
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Snowden Edward Asange / May 19, 2016
Get this mo fo to pay up or lock up…he showered Samitha wjth a HUMMER..seuze it auction it put it in a fund…no not ti CB…mahendran is a crook..who knows how to pull wool over MS n RWs eyes…he never declared his assers…he cant coz ge stole so much money that rughtly belongs to the citizenry of SL…a foul mouthed leech..
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Douglas / May 19, 2016
Now the question is: How long the Judiciary will take to finish all the cases filed against this ex Minister? These are not cases that should be looked at from the rest of the petty thefts. All those relate to plundering of public wealth by misusing power vested in the hands of a Minister of the State. It is therefore necessary to prioritize all these cases and continue to inquire continuously without allowing the defense to get postponements indefinitely. In that the prosecution must help the judges by providing all relevant information and evidence relating to the cases in a timely manner, so that no postponements could be asked or granted on the basis of not having or providing the information. I say this because, it happened in the case filed against the two accused in the “Sil Redi” (Devotees Clothes). The defense asked for a copy of the indictment filed in the lower courts that was not given to them and on that very reason the courts granted a request of postponement. As a result the case will be taken up in September. God knows what will be next move by the defense to get another postponement. This “system” must change and that responsibility must rest with the prosecution and the judiciary.
In the alternative, if the present courts are full up with pending cases, the Government must seriously think of establishing separate “Special Courts” to hear these cases relating to “Bribery” “Corruption”; “misappropriation” and “mismanagement” of Public Ventures causing massive losses etc. If the necessary legislation is required to establish such courts, the Minister of Justice must move in the matter immediately and get such requirements through the Legislature. No one in the Parliament will go against such Legislation and if anyone does, the people will know who they are and whom they are representing in Law Making.
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JJ / May 21, 2016
You’re absolutely right, Douglas.
The problem is that the Minister of Justice is part of the problem!
“No one in the Parliament will go against such Legislation and if anyone does, the people will know who they are and whom they are representing in Law Making. “
With all the riffraff that were appointed to their positions in Parliament in spite of charges pending against them, one wonders if ANYONE at all who are charged will EVER be subject to ‘justice’!
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Diogenes / May 19, 2016
Yes, they will file action. File will be there with no action! That`s going to be the end of it.Only fart .. no shit!
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Lankan / May 19, 2016
What is the point of filing case after case against this guy? The court system in Sri Lanka is not moving forward and the Yahapalana Govt and above all the President of Sri Lanka should take immediate action to get all corruption cases heard soon. Otherwise there is going to be riots in the country as the masses are getting frustrated due to non fulfillment of election promises.
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VJ / May 20, 2016
Absolutely right, the most senior civil servant is dodging the question for some time. Overseas trips, bad weather and Vesak is all helping him delay the process. This will also give the accused sufficient time to prepare their defense. At the end justice will not be done and the president can claim that he is a very compassionate leader.
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Native Vedda / May 20, 2016
Lankan
“Otherwise there is going to be riots in the country as the masses are getting frustrated due to non fulfillment of election promises.”
I do share your concern.
However the impending riots should be aimed at the minorities, the tried and tested method to hide all sins, including corruption.
Let us start another jolly good riot against the minorities (considered a national duty – rajakaria) and protect the corrupt, war criminals, failed politicians, racists, somaass, …………
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jim softy / May 20, 2016
He is being prosecuted for a fraction of what he stole from the country.
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BBS Rep / May 23, 2016
At last. Took a long time coming. Hope the evidence will not disappear or go up in flames as is usual in our thrice blessed country.
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