Former Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry stated that the responsibility for the indictment of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Biman Prasad, lies solely with the Court and not with his legal representatives. This remark was in response to Prasad’s comments concerning the charges brought against him by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC).
FICAC had plans to file multiple charges against Prasad on September 5 for failing to properly declare his assets, income, and liabilities, in violation of Section 24 (l)(b)(iv) of the Political Parties (Registration, Conduct, Funding and Disclosures) Act 2013.
Prasad has consistently maintained that his legal team is managing the situation, and he does not intend to make further comments.
The situation surrounding the indictment became more complex when former Deputy FICAC Commissioner Francis Puleiwai resigned on September 5 after discussions with the Judicial Services Commission. Barbara Malimali has since been appointed as her replacement.
Chaudhry emphasized that Prasad’s assertion about his lawyers disputing the charges is irrelevant, stating, “It is for the courts, not his lawyers, to decide on the merits of the charges.”