Magistrate rejects objections, Johnston’s bribery trial on Aug.9

Colombo Chief Magistrate Lanka Jayarathne yesterday rejected preliminary objections raised by former Minister Johnston Fernando and two others in five corruption cases.
The cases were fixed for trial on August 9.
The Bribery Commission had filed five seperated cases for allegedly causing an unlawful loss of Rs. 40 million to the government by employing 153 persons at the Co-operative Wholesale Establishment (CWE) for election work from 2010 to 2014.
On a previous occasion, President’s Counsel Kalinga Indratissa appearing on behalf of MP Johnston Fernando had raised preliminary objections regarding the case.
Accordingly, cases against former Co-operative and Internal Trade Minister Johnston Fernando, former CWE (Lak Sathosa) Chairman Eraj Fernando and the former Minister’s Private Secretary Raj Mohideen Mohammad Sakeer were fixed for trial on August 9 by Colombo Chief Magistrate Lanka Jayarathne.
The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption Director General filed these corruption cases against the three accused under Section 70 of the Bribery Act on three charges.
The Bribery Commission alleged that the first accused, Johnston Fernando, had unlawfully employed 153 employees for election work during 2010 to 2014, while he was serving as the Co-operatives and Internal Trade Minister.

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Corruption case against Johnston Fernando and two others re-fixed for trial Time 15.29]
The Five corruption cases filed against former Minister Johnston Fernando and two others were today re-fixed for trail by the Colombo Chief Magistrate Lanka Jayarathne.
The cases are over allegedly causing an unlawful loss of Rs. 40 million to the government by employing 153 employees of the Cooperative Wholesale Establishment (CWE) for election work during 2010 to 2014.