Call Was Recorded
The phone conversation between Brigadier General Sitiveni Qiliho and Director of Public Prosecutions Christopher Pryde was recorded, say well placed Police sources.
Sources further confirm that comments Mr Pryde attributed to Mr Qiliho in the said conversation did not happen.
Mr Pryde in a statement on Thursday said: “Later in the day I was surprised to receive a call from the Police Commissioner in a very agitated state. He told me that I had to charge and could not understand why I would not and accused me of making a decision to favour NGOs or some other miscellaneous human rights groups.”
Police sources have come out to say: “That phone conversation was recorded. The Commissioner at no stage was agitated, very agitated or talked about NGOs etc. DPP’s recollection of the conversation is laughable. The Commissioner will no doubt escalate this matter following proper protocols.”
When contacted yesterday, Mr Qiliho neither denied nor confirmed the existence of a recording of the phone conversation.
He said: “I have said what I had to in this matter. There will be no further comments from me.”
When asked whether he had said what Mr Pryde quoted him saying, Mr Qiliho laughed and said: “Well, that is his version and I will leave it at that.”
The alleged conversation was in relation to Mr Pryde’s instructions to Police not to charge National Federation Party leader Biman Prasad following complaints made by Japanese lecturer Ari Taniguchi.
She had accused Mr Prasad of attempting to kiss her on her lips on two occasions, of taking a photograph of her without her knowledge and of sending her various messages through the WhatsApp platform.
Mr Pryde had instructed the Fiji Police Force not to lay charges against Mr Prasad, saying that there was insufficient evidence as the matter “does not meet the evidentiary threshold”.
ODPP has said: “The DPP stands by his statement.”
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