Government Member of Parliament and former Deputy Prime Minister Professor Biman Prasad has entered a plea of not guilty in response to charges related to corruption. He appeared before Magistrate Yogesh Prasad at the Suva Magistrate Court on the morning of the hearing.
Professor Prasad faces a count of failing to comply with statutory disclosure requirements. Additionally, he is charged with providing false information in a statutory declaration. The allegations suggest that he submitted a declaration that mistakenly omitted his directorship, which resulted in it being materially false.
The charges state that on or about December 30, 2015, in Suva, Prasad, as an officeholder of the registered National Federation Party, did not adhere to Section 24 of the Political Parties Act. This failure involved not declaring his directorship in Platinum Hotels and Resorts Pte Limited in his annual declaration of assets, liabilities, and income, which he submitted to the Registrar of Political Parties.
Senior Counsel Joseph Work is representing the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) in this case, while Professor Prasad is defended by Richard Naidu of Munro Leys. The situation unfolds as the legal process continues, with significant implications for Professor Prasad and the political landscape in Fiji.
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