FICAC case against Biman Prasad moves toward pre-trial stage

Former Deputy Prime Minister Biman Prasad appeared at the Suva Magistrate Court today, where his case was adjourned to next Thursday for a pre-trial conference.

The matter was called before Magistrate Yogesh Prasad.

The charges were brought by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) where Prasad is charged with one count of failing to comply with statutory disclosure requirements and an alternative count of providing false information in a statutory declaration under the Political Parties Act.

It is alleged that he failed to declare his directorship in Platinum Hotels and Resorts PTE Limited in his 2015 declaration of assets and liabilities.

FICAC prosecutor Joseph Work told the court that the prosecution had complied with the court’s earlier orders and had provided the relevant disclosure documents relating to the complainant.

Mr Work said that the prosecution had submitted the pre-trial conference minutes on Tuesday evening and acknowledged that the defence would require more time to review the documents.

He said the State had no objection to an adjournment to allow the defence to study the disclosures and obtain further instructions from their client.

The court also heard that an application for a stay of proceedings in the High Court had been dismissed earlier this week, allowing the matter to continue in the Magistrates Court.

Magistrate Prasad noted that both parties now work towards finalising the pre-trial conference process.

The pre-trial conference is expected to be held on May 28.

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