Former Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Professor Biman Prasad appeared in the Suva High Court on Monday to address his stay application regarding charges brought against him by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption.
Professor Prasad faces allegations of failing to meet statutory disclosure requirements. The charges stem from an incident on December 30, 2015, where he, as an office holder of the registered National Federation Party, allegedly did not declare his directorship in Platinum Hotels & Resorts Pte Limited in his annual declaration of assets, in violation of Section 24(1)(b)(iv) of the Political Parties (Registration, Conduct, Funding and Disclosures) Act 2013.
Additionally, he is accused of providing false information in a statutory declaration by recklessly submitting a declaration that omitted his directorship, thus rendering the declaration materially false.
Judge Justice Dane Tuiqereqere has decided to transfer this case to Justice Bull’s Court, where similar stay applications involving former Deputy Prime Minister and Trade Minister Manoa Kamikamica are also pending. Justice Tuiqereqere noted that the grounds of the stay application in both cases are related.
The next court date for this matter is scheduled for December 17. The proceedings underscore the ongoing scrutiny faced by public officials regarding compliance with legal disclosure obligations.
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