FICAC to call four witnesses in Biman Prasad trial
Magistrate raises fairness concerns over disclosure
Monday 03 August 2026 | 13:30
Former Deputy Prime Minister Biman Prasad outside the Suva Magistrate Court on May 21, 2026.
Photo: Ronald Kumar
The Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) will call four witnesses when the trial of former Deputy Prime Minister Professor Biman Prasad begins next week.
The case was mentioned before Resident Magistrate Yogesh Prasad yesterday, where FICAC confirmed it was ready to proceed with the trial.
Prasad is charged with one count of failing to comply with statutory disclosure requirements. He also faces an alternative charge of providing false information in a statutory declaration.
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FICAC prosecutor Joseph Work told the court that summonses had already been served on the four witnesses. He said the witness list and bundle of documents would be provided to the defence by Wednesday.
Magistrate Prasad questioned why the witness list had not been disclosed earlier, saying it should have been shared in the interests of fairness before the trial.
Defence lawyer Richard Naidu also asked when the prosecution would provide the witness list and supporting documents.
Mr Work assured the court that both would be disclosed this week.
To avoid any last-minute issues, Magistrate Prasad ordered another pre-trial conference to be held on Friday before the trial begins next Monday.
The court also directed both parties to provide several key documents before the trial, including Professor Prasad's declaration of assets and liabilities, records relating to his directorship in Platinum Hotels & Resorts Pte Limited, the relevant Government Gazette, the National Federation Party constitution, and an affidavit from Victor Lal.
The matter was adjourned to August 10, when the trial is expected to begin.
