Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has stated that he is prepared to demote his deputy prime minister and finance minister, Biman Prasad, to the backbench if he is charged by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC). Mr. Prasad is currently under investigation by FICAC over allegations that he failed to declare all his assets, income, and liabilities prior to the last election.
Rabuka noted that he set a precedent with former Minister for Fisheries, Kalaveti Ravu, who was similarly moved to the backbench following a related issue. Recently, former Deputy FICAC Commissioner Francis Puleiwai unexpectedly resigned, having approved Mr. Prasad’s arrest on the same day.
Rabuka remarked, “Yes, that is the standing procedure with me and Professor Biman Prasad had already briefed me on the possibility. There is nothing executive about that, that’s what she has said to the media, it did not come to us that he had been arrested. As soon as he is arrested, it will come to me and when he is charged, he will have to carry out what is stated in the laws.”
For his part, Mr. Prasad indicated that his lawyers are managing the situation and declined to comment further. “My lawyers have been handling the complaint from the beginning, and have communicated with FICAC, making it clear that there is no basis for the allegation and no grounds for charge,” he stated. “That’s where the matter ends for me and I don’t wish to make any further comments.”
Fiji Sun attempted to contact the newly appointed FICAC Commissioner Barbara Malimali regarding a possible reassessment of Mr. Prasad’s charges, but she has not yet responded. Malimali is the second individual to hold this significant position, following Rashmi Aslam, who was the first FICAC Commissioner since the body was established in 2007 and took office in 2012.