No decision on tribunals for Qiliho and Pryde yet

No decision has been made yet on the tribunal inquiry for suspended Director of Public Prosecutions, Christopher Pryde who remains on full pay while the Attorney General, Siromi Turaga says the decision on a tribunal inquiry for suspended Police Commissioner, Sitiveni Qiliho will not be made yet as the Constitutional Offices Commission is awaiting the criminal appeal decision in Qiliho’s case.

President, Ratu Wiliame Katonivere suspended Pryde in April last year and had said that a tribunal will be appointed to investigate allegations of misbehaviour.

Pryde was suspended and told to take his overdue leave of 168 days which expired sometime in December 2023.

According to the Constitution, the President acts on the advice of the Judicial Services Commission to appoint a tribunal consisting of a chairperson and not less than 2 other members, selected from amongst persons who hold or have held high judicial office in Fiji or another country.

The Chair of the Judicial Services Commission is Acting Chief Justice Salesi Temo. We have sent questions to him on when the tribunal will be appointed, and based on Pryde getting full pay, will a decision on the tribunal inquiry be made soon.

We have also asked the reason for the delay.

Meanwhile Qiliho was suspended on January 27th last year.

Attorney General Turaga says Qiliho is still paid because he was suspended on the basis of preliminary findings of some misconduct. He says based on the allegations submitted to the commission and written explanations from him, by law the tribunal will have to hear the merit or otherwise of the allegations.

Turaga says if in favour of the complaints, they will make recommendations accordingly to be forwarded to the President.

He says only then, the pay will cease.

But Turaga says the criminal appeal against Bainimarama and Qiliho will be heard late next month.

He says the judgement is estimated to be within 1 month or more.

Turaga says the commission is mindful of the cost of setting up the tribunal therefore they are waiting for the criminal appeal.

He says he cannot divulge the payment made as that is confidential.

Turaga also says that he cannot disclose the specific allegations as well because the tribunal is yet to be set up.

He says all complaints are of a misconduct nature.