Pending further investigations Jerome remanded till Dec 13

Colombo Fort Magistrate yesterday (Dec 01) remanded pastor Jerome Fernando till Dec 13, pending further investigations into his controversial remarks on Buddhism, Hinduism and Islam.The self-styled ‘prophet’ was produced before the Colombo Fort Magistrate yesterday afternoon following his arrest by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), a few hours after he arrived at its premises to record a statement for the second consecutive day.

Fernando made his first appearance at the CID Thursday morning (Nov 30) and provided a statement for around eight hours.

Pastor Fernando returned to the country following an assurance given by the Court of Appeal that he wouldn’t be arrested immediately after his return from overseas. The court directed that he furnish a statement to the CID within 48 hours after his arrival. This interim order was issued in respect of the petition filed by Pastor Fernando, seeking to prevent the CID from arresting him.

Fernando then flew out to Singapore on May 14 before the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court prohibited him from leaving the country.After months of controversy over his remarks, Fernando returned to the island on Wednesday morning (Nov 29). He had arrived 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 a court directive, the CID’s Cyber Crime Investigation Division obtained a statement from the pastor within 48 hours of his arrival in the island.