National Federation Party Leader and Member of Parliament Professor Biman Prasad faced the Suva Magistrate Court this morning, where he was charged with failing to comply with statutory disclosure requirements. Appearing before Magistrate Yogesh Prasad, he encountered accusations of providing false information in a statutory declaration. It is alleged that he submitted a declaration that omitted critical details regarding his directorship, rendering it materially false.
Prasad is contesting this charge in the High Court, with a hearing for the stay proceedings scheduled for March. Senior State Counsel Joseph Work informed the court of proposed facts that the prosecution intends to present to the defense.
The allegations stem from an incident in December 2015, when Prasad, as an office holder of the National Federation Party, purportedly violated Section 24 of the Political Parties Act. He allegedly failed to declare his directorship in Platinum Hotels and Resorts Pte Limited in his annual declaration of assets, liabilities, and income submitted to the Registrar of Political Parties.
The defense for Professor Prasad is being handled by Lawyer Richard Naidu, and the case has been adjourned to April 20. The proceedings highlight ongoing legal and political challenges faced by prominent figures in Fiji, underlining the importance of transparency in political roles. As this case develops, it will be significant for both Prasad’s political future and the broader discourse on accountability within political parties in the region.
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