Court to hear submissions on new disclosures and Saneem as witness in Prof. Prasad case

Court to hear submissions on new disclosures and Saneem as witness in Prof. Prasad case
The Suva Magistrates Court will hear submissions this afternoon to allow for new disclosures and the inclusion of former Registrar of Political Parties Mohammed Saneem as a new witness in FICAC’s case against former Deputy Prime Minister Professor Biman Prasad.

Saneem's statement was taken on Friday.

FICAC had sent Professor Prasad's counsel Richard Naidu an email on Friday night informing him of the changes.

Magistrate Yogesh Prasad reprimanded FICAC counsel Joseph Work that everything must come before the court first, and they cannot just serve things to the defence as the trial is afoot.

When Magistrate Prasad asked Naidu if they had any objections to the new disclosures, Naidu asked how was he supposed to as it just appeared in his inbox on Friday night.

Naidu told the court that they are just getting one stunt after another from FICAC. 

According to FICAC the information contained in the disclosures is not new as it has already been disclosed or exhibited.

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

FICAC alleges that between 30th December 2015 to 31st January 2016, in Suva, being an officeholder of the National Federation Party, registered under the Political Parties (Registration, Conduct, Funding and Disclosures) Act 2013, failed to comply with Section 24(1B)(d), by providing to the office of the registrar his declaration of assets, liabilities and income as at 31st December 2015 without disclosing his directorship in Platinum Hotels & Resorts PTE Limited thereby committing an offence contrary to section 24(5) of the said Act.

It is also alleged that on 28th January 2016 in Suva, being an office holder of a registered political party, namely the National Federation Party, recklessly provided false information in a statutory declaration submitted to the Registrar of Political Parties under Section 24 (1B) (d) of the Political Parties (Registration, Conduct, Funding and Disclosures) Act 2013, solemnly declaring that the particular contained in his declaration of assets, liabilities and income as at 31st December 2015 were true and complete when the declaration omitted his directorship in Platinum Hotels and Resorts PTE Limited, which omission rendered the declaration false in material particular thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 27 (1) (c) of the said Act.

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