No agreement has been reached by the State and the prosecution on proposed agreed facts and documents in the case involving former minister of finance Professor Biman Prasad.
Both parties informed Magistrate Yogesh Prasad in the Suva Magistrate’s Court on Monday that discussions are ongoing. The proposed agreement is intended to shorten the trial.
Prof Prasad faces one count of failing to comply with statutory disclosure requirements, allegedly committed in 2015, and a charge of providing false information in a statutory declaration by allegedly omitting a directorship. The matter has been adjourned to April 20 for a pretrial conference.
In a separate case, the prosecution has been given a week to serve documents requested by lawyer Tanya Waqanika regarding evidence related to a case stemming from the 2014 general election. In this case, Ms Waqanika is charged with a count of publicly indicating opposition to a political party under the Political Parties Act.
Bail has been extended, and her permanent stay application is scheduled for January 29 in the High Court. The matter is adjourned to February 17.
