Former Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry emphasized that the indictment of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Biman Prasad is strictly a matter for the court, and not his attorneys. This statement comes in reaction to Mr. Prasad’s remarks regarding the charges against him from the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC).
FICAC intended to charge Mr. Prasad on September 5 with several counts involving the failure to declare assets, income, and liabilities, which goes against Section 24 (l)(b)(iv) of the Political Parties (Registration, Conduct, Funding, and Disclosures) Act 2013.
In earlier inquiries, Mr. Prasad stated that his legal team was managing the situation and that they would refrain from further comments.
The situation escalated on September 5 when former Deputy FICAC Commissioner Francis Puleiwai resigned after talks with the Judicial Services Commission. She has since been succeeded by the newly appointed Commissioner Barbara Malimali.
Chaudhry pointed out that Mr. Prasad’s assertion that his lawyers have dismissed the charges is irrelevant, stating, “It is for the courts, not his lawyers, to decide on the merits of the charges.”