Former Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry emphasized that the decision regarding the indictment of Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Biman Prasad lies solely with the Court, not with Mr. Prasad’s legal representatives. This statement comes in response to comments made by Mr. Prasad concerning the charges filed against him by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC).
FICAC had planned to prosecute Mr. Prasad on September 5 for several offenses related to the declaration of his assets, income, and liabilities, in violation of Section 24 (l)(b)(iv) of the Political Parties (Registration, Conduct, Funding and Disclosures) Act 2013. Throughout previous inquiries, Mr. Prasad insisted that his lawyers were managing the situation and refrained from further comment.
The situation intensified on September 5 when former Deputy FICAC Commissioner Francis Puleiwai resigned after talks with the Judicial Services Commission. Barbara Malimali has since been appointed as the new Commissioner to take over the role.
Mr. Chaudhry remarked that Mr. Prasad’s assertion that his lawyers dispute the charges is irrelevant, stressing that it is the Court’s responsibility to evaluate the validity of the allegations.