Director of Public Prosecutions, Christopher Pryde has revealed that Acting DPP, Nancy Tikoisuva has specifically requested Chief Justice Salesi Temo to suspend Pryde and set up another Tribunal to hear the fresh allegations she has made against Pryde.
Based on this, Pryde has informed the President that he intends to return and resume his duties after he has dealt with these latest allegations on Monday 3rd February 2025.
Pryde says he apologises to the President, the Prime Minister, the Fijian people, and the staff of the ODPP for the delay in his return to work but clearly impediments are being placed in his way over which he has no control and which require his full attention.
The DPP says late on Friday 17th January 2025 he received a letter from Chief Justice Temo requesting him to respond to a further series of allegations of misbehaviour allegedly committed by him as DPP.
He says these allegations have been made by Nancy Tikoisuva after she says she reviewed Pryde’s personal file when it had been returned to the ODPP after the conclusion of the Tribunal hearing.
Pryde says he rejects these new allegations completely and questions both the timing and why they were not raised in the past 21 months.
He says the allegations are numerous and detailed and will require time and his full attention for him to address them and provide the various original documents which he will need to locate in order to refute them.
The DPP says he is convinced that any investigation will again clear him of wrongdoing.
He adds the seriousness of the allegations and the potential for yet another Tribunal to be established to investigate these claims means that he will need to expend considerable effort over the next two weeks in order to provide the necessary responses and documentation to the Chief Justice within the 14 days timeframe.
He says this is why it is necessary for him to fully address the complaints and try to prevent another Tribunal from being established and potentially another 21-month wait for a conclusion.
We are currently trying to speak to the ODPP.
