Former Minister Johnston Fernando said the Police Financial Crimes Investigations Division (FCID) had become a party branch of the UNP. 

Addressing a press conference in Colombo today, Fernando said the officers of the FCID had been hand-picked by the government and all of them were die-hard loyalists of the UNP. 

Fernando said the court case against him - of which he was acquitted - was plotted by the same group aiming squarely to destroy his political career. 

"All charges against me were made up. But they orchestrated the entire process carefully and carried out a comprehensive publicity campaign to tarnish my image. Every step of the prosecution was meticulously planned by the Yahapalanaya government," he said. 

The former Minister who spent nearly 70 days in remand over corruption charges against him said the complaints were vetted by the Prime Minister and JVP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake. 

"They are the ones who make decisions on arrests. The Police officers are expected to carry out whatever the orders they get from the top," he added.

"While in prison," he said, "I was subjected to various forms of harassment. I was frisked by a team of officers personally selected by Justice Minister Thalatha Atukorale. They did take into consideration the fact that I was a Parliamentarian - a representative elected by the people."