Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Prof Biman Prasad testified that a “voluntary income declaration was used against him publicly” by the Supervisor of Elections and Registrar of Political Parties, Ana Mataiciwa.
He testified that this was done without any formal communication to him first.
Prof Prasad told The Fiji Times the declaration in question was correct and not false and that the Registrar of Political Parties wanted information.
Prof Prasad added that the former Supervisor of Elections, Mohammed Saneem “had allowed him to correct similar errors” previously.
This is stated in the Commission of Inquiry report released on Tuesday.
Prof Prasad testified there was a political conspiracy against him.
He testified those orchestrating the campaign against him were Supervisor of Elections Mataiciwa; FICAC officials, individuals like Alexander Forwood, Victor Lal, Rajendra Chaudhry, Mahendra Chaudhry elements of the former Fiji First Party.
“Hon. Prasad stated that his income declaration was leaked within 48 hours of it being submitted, which was then circulated rapidly on social media and in the press, causing reputational damage,” the CoI report quotes Prof Prasad as testifying.
“Hon. Prasad emphasized that there are strict rules governing access to such declarations, and the leak was a breach of protocol and confidentiality.”
