Suspended DPP decided USD$1,500 for his superannuation - Former Director HR

The suspended Director of Public Prosecutions, Christopher Pryde had decided his superannuation amount of USD$1,500 according to the former Manager HR at the Office of the DPP, Charlotte Nambiar during the Tribunal sitting.

Nambiar says Pryde opted for a contribution of superannuation to his home country, which was first directed to Royal Skandia and later to his Kiwisaver account.

She says the deduction for superannuation was made from the ODPP funds and not from his salary.

The former Director of HR says that after making a few attempts, she was never provided with any annuation plan or matrix that would determine the deduction.

Nambiar says the Judicial Services Commission needed to approve any entitlement.

She says when the contract was formalised for 7 years, Pryde wanted his salary and number of leave days to increase.

Nambiar says after she was directed about the US currency, she had asked him, shouldn't it be New Zealand dollars.

The former Director of HR says he used to earn over $300,000, and 10 percent went to his superannuation.

She says they didn't approach the appointing authority, which was the JSC, as that would be a breach of their conduct. Nambiar further says the Auditor-General's Office used to check his benefits and salary.

She says talking to him was very difficult.

Acting Chief Justice Salesi Temo had mentioned in the Tribunal hearing that they don't have any record of the USD$1,000.

Maureen Kumar who is the Assistant HR at the ODPP, says this was continuing when he came from the Attorney General's Office.

Kumar says they needed more documentation regarding his superannuation.

Kumar says this could have been the amount or percentage, terms and conditions or the JSC approval.

She says there is no record of approval.

She says only once NZD$1,000 was made to his personal account on the 27th of August, 2013.

Kumar says this was approved by Pryde as he was then the Chief Accounting Officer and used to sign off the payments.

The Tribunal includes Judges, Justices Chaitanya Lakshama, Anare Tuilevuka and Samuela Qioa.

The Tribunal informed the Court that Pryde has his reasons for not coming; however, his absence hasn't weakened or strengthened his allegations. They say everyday the team reaches out to him to check if he wishes to join them.