Colombo (News 1st); Colombo High Court Judge Adithya Patabendige on Friday (02) determined the case filed against Minister Johnston Fernando by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption cannot be carried forward.

The Bribery Commission filed the case against Fernando on the charge he deployed 153 employees of Sathosa for unofficial activities during the five-year period from 2010.

The Colombo High Court Judge ordered the Colombo Chief Magistrate to release Johnston Fernando who was the Cooperative and Internal Trade Minister at the time, Former Sathosa Chairman Eraj Fernando and Former Director Operations at Sathosa Mohamed Mohideen, from the case.

The Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court had rejected the preliminary objection filed by counsel for the accused citing the case was filed without the written approval of the three commissioners of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption.

The Colombo High Court Judge issued the order on Friday (02) after considering the revisional application filed by the suspects against the Magistrate Court’s decision to reject the objections.

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