DPM Prof. Biman Prasad resigns after being charged by FICAC

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Professor Biman Prasad will resign today after being charged by FICAC.

Professor Prasad has been charged with failure to comply with statutory disclosure requirements contrary to section 24 (5) of the Political Parties Act.

It is alleged that in December 2015, Professor Prasad failed to comply with the Act by not declaring his directorship in Platinum Hotels and Resorts PTE Limited.

He will appear in the Suva Magistrates Court on the 17th of November.

Speaking to fijivillage News, Professor Prasad confirms that he has been charged by FICAC and he has already spoken to the Prime Minister, advising him that he will resign tomorrow.

When approached by us, Rabuka confirmed that he has been advised by Professor Prasad of his charges and his resignation tomorrow.

Rabuka confirms Assistant Minister for Finance, Esrom Immanuel will be the Acting Minister for Finance.

As outgoing Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Professor Biman Prasad left his office after resigning from his post following the charges laid against him by FICAC, he says this is a temporary setback and his lawyers are working on the case to get a speedy resolution in the matter.

Professor Prasad has thanked his friends, family members and the general public for the messages of support, kindness and the encouragement and the recognition of his work by them.

He confirms that he met the Prime Minister at his residence this morning and informed him of the resignation.

Professor Prasad says he also thanked Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka for his support.

He also thanked Permanent Secretary for Finance, Shiri Goundar who he believes is a great leader and a very loyal civil servant.

Professor Prasad says Goundar leads a group of very committed staff and he will miss working with them.

He also says he will also have a little bit more time with family and friends and he will be able to connect more with the broader community as the Leader of the National Federation Party.

Member of Parliament, Professor Biman Prasad has been granted bail by the Suva Magistrates Court.

He appeared this morning before Magistrate Yogesh Prasad, charged with two counts of failure to comply with statutory disclosure requirements.

He is also charged with providing false information in a statutory declaration, having allegedly recklessly submitted a declaration that omitted his directorship, rendering it materially false.

Before the court proceedings began, Magistrate Prasad declared that in 2010 he had purchased a family property belonging to Professor Prasad in Tamavua.

There was no objection to this disclosure from either FICAC or the defence, and therefore the potential conflict was declared.

The matter was initiated via summons since Professor Prasad was overseas, and therefore no interview was conducted.

FICAC also confirmed that Professor Prasad is not a flight risk, and therefore no stop-departure order was issued.

Magistrate Prasad informed the court that the defence counsel will need to give ample notice to the court whenever Professor Prasad intends to travel overseas.

Defence counsel, Richard Naidu, told the court that due to Professor Prasad’s academic commitments, he needs to prepare early for his travel, and therefore they wish to inform the court 14 days in advance.

Naidu requested that notice be given to the court through a formal email with his flight itinerary attached.

Magistrate Prasad said they also need to outline the time of his departure and arrival.

Professor Prasad has a non-cash bail of $10,000 with two sureties.

Supporters, friends, and family of Professor Prasad gathered outside the court this morning to show their support.

The matter has been adjourned for plea on December 8th.

Richard Naidu, the lawyer for National Federation Party Leader and Member of Parliament, Professor Biman Prasad, has today informed the Suva Magistrates Court they will be filing for a permanent stay on the charges laid by FICAC against Professor Prasad.

Naidu says they will file the application in the High Court based on the grounds which include the validity of the appointment of Lavi Rokoika as the Acting Commissioner of FICAC, prejudicial delay as it is 10 years from the matter being raised from 2015, there are issues with the law underlying the charge and the conduct of the investigation.

The FICAC prosecutor also confirmed before Magistrate Yogesh Prasad that the matter was initiated via summons since Professor Prasad was overseas, and therefore no interview was conducted by FICAC with Professor Prasad.

Professor Prasad has been granted bail by the Magistrate.

He is charged with two counts of failure to comply with statutory disclosure requirements.

Professor Prasad is also charged with providing false information in a statutory declaration, having allegedly recklessly submitted a declaration that omitted his directorship, rendering it materially false.

Before the court proceedings began, Magistrate Prasad declared that in 2010 he had purchased a family property belonging to Professor Prasad in Tamavua.

There was no objection to this disclosure from either FICAC or the defence, and therefore the potential conflict was declared.

Rokoika also confirmed that Professor Prasad is not a flight risk, and therefore no stop-departure order was issued.

Professor Prasad was not required to surrender his passport.

Magistrate Prasad informed the court that the defence counsel will need to give ample notice to the court whenever Professor Prasad intends to travel overseas.

Richard Naidu told the court that due to Professor Prasad’s academic commitments, he needs to prepare early for his travel, and therefore they wish to inform the court 14 days in advance.

Naidu requested that notice be given to the court through a formal email with his flight itinerary attached.

Magistrate Prasad said they also need to outline the time of his departure and arrival.

Professor Prasad has a non-cash bail of $10,000 with two sureties.

His sureties are National Federation Party President Parmod Chand and one of the founders of People's Alliance and Deputy Chair of Fijian Holdings Limited, Sakiusa Raivoce.

Supporters, friends, and family of Professor Prasad gathered outside the court today morning to show their support.

The matter has been adjourned for plea on December 8th.