Chaudhry to remain FLP leader for now

Mahendra Chaudhry will remain the Fiji Labour Party leader for now.

That’s the comment of the FLP President Lavenia Padarath.

She said there has been much speculation in the media concerning the leadership of the FLP following Chaudhry’s conviction and sentencing.

Padarath said the FLP Management Board will meet later this week to discuss the matter.

However, she said the FLP has been advised that Chaudhry has appealed against his conviction.

Padarath said the appeal was filed in the Fiji Court of Appeal on the 11th of last month.

Chaudhry cannot contest the September 17th election this year as his conviction remains after he was found guilty of three counts of breach of the Exchange Control Act and sentenced by Justice Paul Madigan.

The 2013 constitution clearly states that a person may be a candidate for election to parliament only if the person has not, at any time during the eight years immediately before being nominated, been convicted of any offence under any law for which the maximum penalty is a term of imprisonment of 12 months or more.

The same is stated in the Electoral Decree for candidate eligibility.

Under the Political Parties Registration Decree, a person is disqualified from being an office holder of a political party if that person has, in the five years preceding the date when he or she applies to become an office holder of the political party, has been convicted of an offence and sentenced to imprisonment for a period of not less than 6 months.

When questioned by Fijivillage on Chaudhry not contesting the elections, Chaudhry said that it is early days at this stage and he will not say anything on it for now.

Story by: Vijay Narayan