Sathosa Scandal: Court Sets October Date for Corruption Hearing

COLOMBO (News 1st); Colombo High Court Judge R.S.S. Sapuwida today ordered that further hearings in the corruption case against former Minister of Trade Johnston Fernando and two others be postponed to October 1.

The case, filed by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC), alleges that during his tenure as Trade Minister in 2014, Fernando misused employees of the state-owned Sathosa (CWE) by deploying them for political activities, thereby causing financial losses to the government.

When the case was called today, the three accused—Johnston Fernando, former Sathosa Chairman Eraj Fernando, and Mohamed Saakir, who served as the minister’s coordinating secretary—were present in court.

During the session, testimony was recorded from prosecution witnesses under the direction of Bribery Commission officials.

Following this, the judge ordered that further witness examination be postponed until October 1.

The case has been filed under Section 70 of the Bribery Act, with charges relating to the offence of corruption.