The indictment of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Biman Prasad, is a matter for the Court, not for his lawyers, according to former Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry. This statement comes in response to Prasad’s remarks concerning the charges brought against him by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC).
FICAC planned to charge Prasad on September 5 with multiple offenses related to the declaration of assets, income, and liabilities, in violation of Section 24 (l)(b)(iv) of the Political Parties (Registration, Conduct, Funding and Disclosures) Act 2013. Previously, Prasad maintained that his lawyers were managing the situation, refraining from providing further comments.
The situation took a turn on September 5 when former Deputy FICAC Commissioner Francis Puleiwai resigned after discussions with the Judicial Services Commission. She has been succeeded by the newly appointed Commissioner, Barbara Malimali.
Chaudhry emphasized, “Mr Biman’s claim that his lawyers are rejecting the charges is irrelevant. It is the court’s responsibility, not his lawyers’, to determine the validity of the charges.”