A new trial date has been scheduled from September 1st to 4th for former Deputy Prime Minister Professor Biman Prasad.
Professor Prasad pleaded not guilty to the amended charge filed by FICAC against him this afternoon.
Defence lawyer Richard Naidu wanted the trial to start this afternoon or tomorrow.
However, Magistrate Yogesh Prasad stressed that he had ruled Professor Prasad should be given sufficient time to prepare his case.
Magistrate Prasad says the amended charge introduced a new provision and was not a minor change.
Naidu says under Section 18A of the Electoral Act, the case must be given priority.
He says his client's political career is on the line.
He also says they do not want any more surprises.
Magistrate Prasad allowed FICAC’s application to amend the charge against Professor Prasad.
FICAC has made changes to the date of the alleged offence and the section of the law under which the charge was initially filed.
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.
