Former deputy prime minister Professor Biman Prasad is now a free man after Magistrate Yogesh Prasad ruled that he had no case to answer on two charges brought against him by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC).
The ruling was delivered in the Suva Magistrates Court, bringing an end to the criminal proceedings against Professor Prasad.
Professor Prasad faced two charges under the Political Parties (Registration, Conduct, Funding and Disclosures) Act 2013.
He was charged with failing to comply with statutory disclosure requirements, contrary to section 24(5), read with section 24(1B)(d) of the Act.
It was alleged that between December 30, 2015 and January 31, 2016, while an officeholder of the National Federation Party, he failed to disclose his directorship in Platinum Hotels & Resorts PTE Limited in his declaration of assets, liabilities and income as at December 31, 2015.
The second charge alleged that on January 28, 2016, Professor Prasad recklessly provided false information in a statutory declaration, contrary to section 27(1)(c) of the Act.
He allegedly declared that the particulars in his declaration were true and complete despite omitting his directorship in the company.
