Former Minister Johnston Fernando and his two sons, along with two other suspects arrested by the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID), have been further remanded until January 23 by the Wattala Magistrate’s Court.
Those remanded include Johnston Fernando, his son Johan Fernando, his youngest son Jerome Kenneth Fernando, and two others. They were taken into custody in connection with the alleged misuse of a vehicle belonging to Lanka Sathosa during Fernando’s tenure as a Cabinet Minister.
Earlier, police had indicated that an arrest warrant would be sought if the former minister failed to appear before the FCID as required. Investigations are continuing into the alleged misuse of state property, including a Sathosa-owned lorry, which is said to have caused a significant financial loss to the state.
In a related development, Indika Ratnamalala, who served as Transport Manager of Sathosa during Johnston Fernando’s term as Minister of Co-operatives and Internal Trade, was arrested on January 4. After being produced before the Wattala Magistrate’s Court, he was ordered to be remanded until January 9.
Ratnamalala was remanded on allegations of falsifying official documents at the request of the former minister’s son, Johan Fernando, to facilitate the use of a Sathosa-owned lorry for activities linked to a company allegedly owned by Johnston Fernando.
