Registrar of Companies Executive Officer Manase Taleimaipapalagi has told the Suva Magistrates Court in the FICAC trial of former Deputy Prime Minister Professor Biman Prasad that the information contained in the Memorandum and Articles of Association with respect to Platinum Hotels and Resorts Limited is not verified.
This was confirmed during cross-examination when Professor Prasad’s lawyer, Richard Naidu, questioned him.
Taleimaipapalagi says neither he nor other officers from the Registrar of Companies have visited Platinum Hotels and Resorts Limited to verify the information submitted regarding its shareholders and directors.
The trial continues tomorrow morning.
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.
