FLP questions legitimacy of FICAC’s decision to clear Prof. Prasad

The Fiji Labour Party is challenging the legitimacy, propriety and timing of the FICAC statement clearing Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Professor Biman Prasad of all allegations filed against him by the Supervisor of Elections for breaches of the Political Parties Act.

This comes as FICAC closed the case against Professor Prasad in relation to complaint by one Alexander Forwood of Sydney, Australia regarding the declaration of his assets and liabilities.

FLP Leader Mahendra Chaudhry says FICAC Commissioner Barbara Malimali is under investigation by a Commission of Inquiry appointed by the President at the instigation of the Prime Minister.

He says the finalized report of the COI is awaiting the return of Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka to the country.

Chaudhry says it is not only impertinent but also highly irregular of FICAC to pre-empt the findings of a Presidential Commission of Inquiry which had been set up to enquire into the “rot” surrounding Malimali’s appointment as FICAC Commissioner.

He says her appointment had centred around the case against Professor Prasad and the fact that FICAC was to have charged him the very day Malimali was appointed to the substantive position of Commissioner FICAC.

He says significantly, the charges against Professor Prasad were dropped as soon as she took office.

Chaudhry says the legitimacy and integrity of the FICAC move is questionable considering the statement was issued in the name of FICAC Commissioner who was sent on leave in February, pending the outcome of the inquiry.

He says Fijians have a right to know whether the decision to clear a senior Coalition member was made by an officer duly empowered to act, or if this statement reflects internal disarray and disfunction.

Chaudhry says FICAC is a watch-dog institution tasked with upholding integrity and accountability, yet it has lately come under considerable discredit for its own failure to uphold proper governance protocols.

He says FLP is alarmed that such important developments appear to take place when the Prime Minister is out of the country.

Chaudhry adds it makes one wonder just who is running this country.

When questioned, FICAC sent the 2010 ruling in the matter where Chaudhry was convicted of three counts of failure to surrender currency.

In this case, the former Prime Minister kept AUD$3 million for his own use and benefit, without the consent of the Governor of the Reserve Bank of Fiji.

FICAC is yet to provide an explanation on the relevance of this case with relation to FLP’s issue regarding Professor Prasad.