FORMER deputy prime minister Professor Biman Prasad’s lawyer has urged the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption to avoid any further surprises when the matter returns for trial on September 1.
Lawyer Richard Naidu made the comment before Magistrate Yogesh Prasad after the court granted FICAC leave to amend the charges against Prof Prasad.
Prof Prasad entered a not-guilty plea to the amended charges of a count of failure to comply with statutory disclosure requirements and providing false information in a statutory declaration.
FICAC alleges that between December 30, 2015, and January 31, 2016, being an officeholder of the National Federation Party, Prof Prasad failed to comply with Section 24(1B)(d) by providing to the Office of the Registrar his declaration of assets, liabilities and income as at December 31, 2015, without disclosing his directorship in Platinum Hotels & Resorts PTE Ltd thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 24(5) of the said act.
He is also alleged to have recklessly provided false information in a statutory declaration submitted to the Registrar of Political Parties Act 2013 by solemnly declaring that the particulars contained in his declaration of assets, liabilities and income as of December 31, 2015, were true and complete when the declaration omitted his directorship in Platinum Hotels & Resorts PTE Ltd.
Mr Naidu sought to have the trial commence today, August 13, but Magistrate Prasad maintained his earlier ruling, stating that the defence required adequate time to prepare.
