Former Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry stated that the responsibility for the indictment of Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Biman Prasad lies solely with the Court, not with his legal counsel. This statement follows Prasad’s remarks about the charges brought against him by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC).
FICAC planned to charge Prasad on September 5 with multiple counts 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. Prasad has previously maintained that his lawyers are managing the situation and would provide no further comments.
The complexity of the indictment was heightened on September 5, coinciding with the resignation of former Deputy FICAC Commissioner Francis Puleiwai, who left after discussions with the Judicial Services Commission. Barbara Malimali has since been appointed as the new Commissioner.
Chaudhry emphasized that Prasad’s assertion that his lawyers are refuting the charges is inconsequential, stating, “It is for the courts, not his lawyers, to decide on the merits of the charges.”