News
Self styled prophet had Rs. 12.25bn in bank accounts
View(s):By Damith Wickramasekara and Ranjith Padmasiri
Criminal Investigation Department (CID) detectives investigating the finances of self-styled Pastor Jerome Fernando are looking into the sources of funding behind Rs. 12.25 billion that were found circulating in his bank accounts.
They will also be looking into how he acquired various assets too as part of a wide-ranging investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, a senior CID source told the Sunday Times yesterday.
The CID source claimed that their investigations had so far uncovered that certain politicians, VIPs and celebrities had given money to the self-styled pastor. “We are probing these connections as well,” he said.
Meanwhile, Senior Additional Solicitor General (SASG) Priyantha Nawana told the Supreme Court (SC) on Friday that Rs. 12.25 billion had been found circulating in 11 bank accounts belonging to Mr. Fernando. One of these accounts contained USD 150,000. He said investigators were looking into the sources behind these funds.
The AG’s Department revelation came during the hearing into two Fundamental Rights cases pertaining to the so-called pastor. One petition had been filed by him requesting the court to issue an order preventing his arrest by the CID. A group of religious leaders, including Ven. Elle Gunawansa Thera, filed an intervenient petition requesting the SC to dismiss the so-called pastors’ petition.
The controversial preacher, who is now in Britain, is facing arrest under the International Covenant for Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) Act for allegedly creating religious and racial disharmony through derogatory comments on the Lord Buddha, Buddhism, Islam and Hinduism.
His social media pages over the past week have advertised services being held by him in person in Britain. While
physically ministering services in the UK, he is joining in virtually for services being held at his Miracle Dome
complex in Katunayake.
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