Former Minister Johnston Fernando acquitted and released

Colombo (News1st): The Kurunegala High Court ordered the release of former minister Johnston Fernando and two others, who were remanded over allegations of misappropriating items from Sathosa. The Attorney General had filed a case against three persons including former minister Johnston Fernando, over the misappropriation of goods worth more than Rs. 5 million from Lak Sathosa under the previous regime. The lawyers representing the former Minister stated that the evidence given by two police officers from the Police FCID are contradictory. They have also pointed out that there are reasonable doubts over deliberate changes made to the evidence in the documents relating to the case. Considering these facts, Kurunegala High Court Judge Menaka Wijesundera ordered the release of the suspects, over the failure to submit adequate evidence. Upon his release, the MP noted that he would be taking steps to take legal action against the FCID and all those responsible for the fake allegations.