Pryde extradition case adjourned as service issues persist

The extradition case involving Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Christopher Pryde, has been adjourned to March 27 as the court awaits confirmation that he has been properly served with disclosures.

The matter was called before Magistrate Yogesh Prasad in Suva today.

Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) lawyer Lillian Mausio told the court that an investigating officer was sent to New Zealand to personally serve Mr Pryde. However, the officer found that he was not at his residence.

She said FICAC will now hand the documents to a process server in New Zealand, who will attempt to serve Mr Pryde again before the next court date.

Magistrate Prasad noted that while FICAC had no issue with him continuing to preside over the matter, he must still hear Mr Pryde’s side because the former DPP once served as his superior in the Director of Public Prosecutions Office.

He said this was necessary to ensure fairness and transparency, especially in a case involving a senior former State official.

Mr Pryde faces three sets of charges linked to alleged financial misconduct during his time as DPP.

The first charge is abuse of office.
FICAC alleges that Mr Pryde approved and received four gratuity payments amounting to $138,445.05 without the required approval from the Office of the President or the Judicial Services Commission, as required under his contract.

As an alternative to this charge, he is accused of causing a financial loss to the Office of the DPP by knowingly accepting payments he was not entitled to.

The second charge also involves alleged abuse of office.
FICAC claims he approved and received eight airfare reimbursements totalling $47,053.03 for his wife and child, despite knowing they did not live in Fiji. These payments were allegedly against his employment contract and in breach of procurement rules.

An alternative charge accuses him of obtaining a financial advantage. The third charge is causing a loss.
According to FICAC, Mr Pryde was reimbursed $7,828.56 on 16 September 2022 for unused airline tickets. The airline later refunded him directly, but he allegedly did not return the money to the Office of the DPP.

The case has been adjourned to next month as authorities continue efforts to formally serve Mr Pryde in New Zealand.