An inquiry by the Attorney General’s office has determined that payment vouchers issued to suspended Public Prosecutor director Christopher Pryde were not properly approved. Paula Naitoka, the Principal Accounts Officer from the AG’s office, made this revelation during the concluding session of the tribunal, which is investigating claims that Mr. Pryde received payments without necessary approvals.
Naitoka acknowledged that while the investigation was not as exhaustive as it could have been, the team was able to uncover two payment vouchers dating back to January 2011, coinciding with the year Mr. Pryde assumed his role as the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). He pointed out that the limited timeframe for the investigation might have impacted their findings but maintained that more records could potentially exist from Mr. Pryde’s payment history dating back to 2007.
Naitoka criticized the Judicial Service Commission for not adequately addressing the contractual clause under which Pryde was making these transactions, suggesting that the limits on what he could receive should have been more clearly defined.
The Auditor General, Finau Nagera, supported Naitoka’s statements, explaining the need for further clarification regarding Mr. Pryde’s payroll and emphasizing that there should have been a clear breakdown of the amounts involved and the process leading to those amounts. She also noted that similar practices by Mr. Pryde prior to his DPP role had not been questioned in Parliament at that time.
As the tribunal proceeds, the Fiji Law Society has been given until next Friday to present their submissions. Following this, the tribunal is expected to compile a final report for the President, Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu, due by December 23.
This situation underscores the need for strict adherence to approval processes and transparent financial management within public offices, aiming to strengthen accountability and restore public confidence in the judicial system. The completion of this investigation may lead to important reforms in oversight practices, ensuring greater integrity moving forward.
In summary, the inquiry into Christopher Pryde’s payments has revealed serious gaps in the approval process that could lead to future changes in governance and oversight—an encouraging prospect for stakeholders seeking transparency and accountability in public service.
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