Suspended Director of Public Prosecutions Christopher Pryde has revealed that the Government stopped paying his salary earlier this week.
Pryde has since written a five-page letter to New Zealand’s Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters, requesting assistance to address what he describes as a ‘grave injustice’ against him by the Government. This letter has also been sent to the Fiji Law Society and various Fiji media organizations.
In his correspondence with Peters, Pryde stated that the cessation of his salary would prevent him from defending himself against what he terms as “totally unwarranted charges” of misconduct, which led to his suspension last year. He noted that these charges have been pending for 15 months, with no hearing date set as required by the Constitution.
Pryde highlighted that the way the Fijian government is managing this matter could affect other expatriate New Zealanders considering roles within Fiji’s civil service or judiciary. He emphasized that the sudden halt of his salary has left him with no choice but to seek Peters’ help, citing a denial of natural justice.
The letter detailed that Pryde had been the subject of a complaint to the Judicial Services Commission (JSC) by former attorney-general Siromi Turaga. The complaint arose from an occasion where Pryde was seen conversing with former attorney-general Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum at a social function while a police file on Sayed-Khaiyum had been sent to the DPP’s office. According to Pryde, Turaga suggested that an apology would resolve the issue, but instead, his apology letter was used to support the complaint against him.
Pryde also expressed concerns about the conduct of former acting DPP John Rabuku, resident Magistrate Seini Puamau, and acting Chief Justice Salesi Temo, stating that the Fijian Government’s recent actions should concern New Zealand.
Pryde acknowledged that this issue might be seen as an internal matter but argued that it has regional implications for the rule of law. He suggested that if the Fijian government were aware that the New Zealand government was monitoring the situation, it might feel compelled to uphold the rule of law and ensure his right to a defense.
Justice Minister Siromi Turaga, who was attorney-general when Pryde was suspended, stated that newly appointed Attorney-General Graham Leung, Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, through the CoC, and the JSC, would be best suited to address Pryde’s concerns. Turaga mentioned that the Tribunal’s commencement was delayed when allegations regarding Pryde’s superannuation emerged.
Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka said he would comment only after reviewing Pryde’s letter and noted that he would receive an update on Pryde’s tribunal at the Constitutional Offices Commission meeting.