Former Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry stated that the decision regarding the indictment of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Biman Prasad, rests solely with the court and not with his legal team. This comment responds to Mr. Prasad’s remarks about the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) charges against him.
FICAC was set to charge Mr. Prasad on September 5 for multiple counts concerning the declaration of assets, income, and liabilities, which would violate Section 24 (l)(b)(iv) of the Political Parties (Registration, Conduct, Funding and Disclosures) Act 2013.
In previous inquiries, Mr. Prasad maintained that his lawyers were managing the situation and would refrain from further comments. The context surrounding this indictment intensified on September 5 when former Deputy FICAC Commissioner Francis Puleiwai resigned after discussions with the Judicial Services Commission. Ms. Puleiwai has since been replaced by newly appointed Commissioner Barbara Malimali.
Chaudhry emphasized that Mr. Prasad’s assertion that his legal team had dismissed the charges is irrelevant, stating, “It is for the courts, not his lawyers, to decide on the merits of the charges.”