Former Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry has emphasized that the indictment of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Biman Prasad, is a matter for the court to address, rather than for his legal team to comment on. This statement comes in response to Mr. Prasad’s remarks concerning the charges brought against him by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC).
FICAC planned to charge Mr. Prasad on September 5 for multiple offenses related to the improper declaration of assets, income, and liabilities, which violates Section 24 (l)(b)(iv) of the Political Parties (Registration, Conduct, Funding and Disclosures) Act of 2013.
In prior discussions, Mr. Prasad maintained that his lawyers were managing the situation and indicated that no further comments would be forthcoming from their side. The situation escalated on September 5, coinciding with the resignation of former Deputy FICAC Commissioner, Francis Puleiwai, following talks with the Judicial Services Commission. Ms. Puleiwai has been succeeded by newly appointed Commissioner, Barbara Malimali.
Chaudhry responded to Prasad’s assertion that his legal team had dismissed the charges, stating, “Mr. Biman’s claim that his lawyers rejecting the charges is neither here nor there. It is for the courts, not his lawyers, to decide on the merits of the charges.”