Parliamentarian Johnston Fernando today was acquitted from counts filed against him for his failure to disclose his assets and liabilities for year 2010, by Colombo Chief Magistrate Lanka Jayarathne.
After a long trial, the Magistrate observed that the Bribery Commission has been failed to prove the charges beyond the reasonable doubt.
The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption alleged that the former minister had failed to declare his assets and liabilities for five years since 2010.
On a previous occasion giving evidence before the Court, the Senior Assistant President’s Secretary, Chandima Wickramasinghe stated that the documents were not available at the Presidential Secretariat to prove the declaration of any assets and liabilities by the former Minister, according to his knowledge.
The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption had filed charges against Fernando in the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court under Section 9 of the Declaration of Assets and Liabilities Law No. 1 of 1975.
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