Pastor Jerome’s bail hearing on Jan 04

The Colombo High Court yesterday (Dec. 20) announced the hearing of the bail application filed by Pastor Jerome Fernando on January 04, 2024.

The announcement was made when the case was called before High Court Judge Aditya Patabendi yesterday (20) morning.

Several groups demanded Pastor Fernando’s arrest after a video of one of his sermons went viral on social media. He was accused of making derogatory statements regarding other religions.

Fernando then flew out to Singapore on May 14, two days before the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court banned his foreign travels.

After months of controversy over his remarks, Fernando returned to the country on Nov 29 from Singapore on board a Qatar Airlines flight and left the airport through the Gold Route at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake.

As per an Appeals Court directive, the CID’s Cyber Crime Investigation Division obtained a statement from the pastor within 48 hours of his arrival in the island.

He was first remanded on December 01, following his arrest by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), a few hours after he arrived at the premises to record a statement for the second consecutive day.

Pastor Fernando was subsequently further remanded till December 27, on the orders of Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court.