An investigation by the Attorney General’s office has revealed that payment vouchers issued to Christopher Pryde, the suspended director of Public Prosecutions, lacked proper approvals. Principal Accounts Officer Paula Naitoka shared these findings during the closing day of the tribunal examining allegations against Pryde for receiving payments without authorization.
Naitoka testified that while the scope of the investigation was somewhat limited, two payment vouchers dated from January 2011—coinciding with Pryde’s appointment as DPP—were discovered. He acknowledged that the time constraints hobbled the depth of their investigation and could not confirm the total records accessible regarding Pryde’s payment history dating back to 2007. Nevertheless, he maintained that more records might exist, though not all were scrutinized.
According to Naitoka, the contractual clause permitting Pryde to execute these transactions required additional examination from the Judicial Service Commission. He noted that it should have specified the allowable payment amounts, indicating a gap in oversight by the contract’s creators.
Echoing Naitoka’s insights, Auditor General Finau Nagera reported the need for further clarification from the DPP concerning his payroll. She emphasized that his payroll records should adequately outline specific amounts and detail the processes justifying those figures. Nagera pointed out that these discrepancies were only addressed following investigation requests and highlighted that similar practices by Pryde had occurred prior to his appointment but went unchallenged in Parliament at that time.
As the tribunal wraps up its hearings, the Fiji Law Society has until next week to submit its findings before the final report is presented to President Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu on December 23.
This investigation exemplifies a critical step towards accountability and transparency in governance. With the tribunal’s proceedings and subsequent reporting, stakeholders can hope for a more rigorous analysis of processes that ensure integrity in public offices moving forward.
Leave a comment