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 team. Chaudhry’s remarks came in response to Prasad’s defense regarding the charges brought against him by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC).
FICAC had plans to formally charge Mr. Prasad on September 5 for multiple violations related to the declaration of assets, income, and liabilities, in contravention of Section 24 (l)(b)(iv) of the Political Parties (Registration, Conduct, Funding and Disclosures) Act 2013. Throughout earlier inquiries, Prasad maintained that his lawyers were managing the situation and declined to comment further.
The timing of this indictment became more significant following the resignation of former Deputy FICAC Commissioner Francis Puleiwai on September 5 after discussions with the Judicial Services Commission. Barbara Malimali has since been appointed as the new Commissioner.
Chaudhry challenged Prasad’s assertion that the rejection of the charges by his lawyers mattered, stating, “It is for the courts, not his lawyers, to decide on the merits of the charges.”