Former Sathosa Accountant Manoj Lakmal Botheju, said food items were issued on the instructions of former Minister Johnston Fernando from the Yanthampalawa CWE store.
It had issued good worth Rs. 3.8 mn on the instructions, of the then minister, he said, when the Sathosa financial misappropriation case against former Cooperatives Minister Johnston Fernando came up before Kurunegala High Court Judge Menaka Wijesundara yesterday.
In this case, former Cooperatives Minister Johnston Fernando, Lak Sathosa former Chairman K. M. R. Fernando and the Minister's Coordinating Secretary, Raj Mohideen Mohamed Sakeer are charged with releasing goods worth over Rs. 5.2 million from CWE warehouses in the Kurunegala district during the NWP PC election in September 2013.
Solicitor General Rosantha Abesuriya who led the prosecution, presented the witnesses list of nine individuals.
President's Counsel Kalinga Indathissa appearing on behalf of Fernando informed court that his client settled the dues to the stores in question. His client,Fernando had not committed any offence, he said.
State Counsel Roshantha Abeysuriya prosecuted. President's Counsel Kalinga Indathissa and attorneys Indika Giragama, Harin Saddasena, Malintha Jayasinghe, Rishan Widanagamage, Kanchana Ratwatte and Anil Silva appeared for the defence.
The judge further remanded the suspects and postponed the case for today.
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