Pryde case discontinued after FICAC files nolle prosequi

The Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) has discontinued its criminal case against former Director of Public Prosecutions Christopher Pryde after informing the court that he had evaded service.

Senior FICAC Prosecutor Lanieta More filed a nolle prosequi before Magistrate Yogesh Prasad this morning, bringing an end to the proceedings.

Ms More told the court the decision to discontinue the case was made because Mr Pryde had “successfully managed to evade service”, a circumstance she said was beyond FICAC’s control.

Magistrate Prasad accepted the nolle prosequi and noted that the legal proceedings against Mr Pryde had been discontinued.

Mr Pryde had been charged with two counts of abuse of office, two alternative counts of causing a loss, one alternative count of obtaining a financial advantage, and a further count of causing a loss.