The suspended Director of Public Prosecutions, Christopher Pryde, has reached out to New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters, seeking assistance to address what he describes as a grave injustice against him in Fiji.
In his letter, Pryde outlines that he was suspended on April 13, 2023, as the DPP, pending an inquiry and a potential decision by the President on whether to convene a Tribunal. Despite a delay of nearly a year, a Tribunal was established on March 5, 2024, but no hearing date has been set.
Pryde further claims that on April 16, 2024, he was informed that the Tribunal’s mandate had been expanded to include an additional charge related to receiving unauthorized superannuation payments.
He states that he had already communicated with the Judicial Services Commission on this matter and denied any wrongdoing.
He claims that the Fijian government’s action in unilaterally cutting off his salary at the four-year mark of his current seven-year contract has meant that he is unable to effectively defend himself against totally unwarranted charges that have now been outstanding for 15 months.
Pryde also stated that this should serve as a warning to other New Zealanders who may be considering taking up positions in Fiji.
On July 9, 2024, Pryde wrote to the Judicial Services Commission regarding his overdue gratuity allowance, due in April 2024. He states that on the same day, he received a letter from the President informing him that his salary and all contractual benefits would be suspended forthwith.