Former deputy prime minister Professor Biman Prasad’s no-case-to-answer application will be heard in the Suva Magistrates Court tomorrow at 2.30pm. The hearing was scheduled for today before the same magistrate but was adjourned after defence lawyer Richard Naidu requested a later time, telling the court Prof Prasad had a meeting scheduled between 10am and 1pm.
Mr Naidu also informed the court that the defence’s Third application for a permanent stay of proceedings would be called in the High Court tomorrow at 9.30am for first call. The no-case-to-answer application was filed after the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) closed its case last week, having called three witnesses and tendered 11 exhibits.
Prof Prasad faces a count of failure to comply with statutory disclosure requirements Contrary to section 24(5) of the Political Parties (Registration, Conduct, Funding and Disclosures) Act 2013, read with section 24(1B) (d). It is alleged that between December 30, 2015 and January 31, 2016, in Suva, while an officeholder of the NFP, Prof Prasad failed to disclose his directorship in Platinum Hotels & Resorts PTE Limited in his declaration of assets, liabilities and income as at December 31, 2015, submitted to the Registrar of Political Parties.
The second charge alleges he provided false information in a statutory declaration, contrary to Section 27(1)(c) of the Act. It is alleged that on January 28, 2016, in Suva, Prof Prasad recklessly provided false information in a statutory declaration submitted to the Registrar of Political Parties by declaring that the particulars in his assets, liabilities and income declaration as at December 31, 2015, were true and complete when the declaration allegedly omitted his directorship in Platinum Hotels & Resorts PTE Limited.
