PM Rabuka to maintain stance

Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka will not hesitate to demote his deputy prime minister and finance minister to the backbench should he be charged by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC).

Biman Prasad has been under investigation by FICAC regarding alleged failure to declare all of his assets, income and liabilities ahead of the last election.

Mr Rabuka said he had set this precedent with former Minister for Fisheries now backbencher, Kalaveti Ravu.

Former Deputy FICAC Commissioner Francis Puleiwai, who suddently resigned on Thursday, had sanctioned Mr Prasad’s arrest, also on the same day.

Mr Rabuka said: “Yes, that is the standing procedure with me and Professor Biman Prasad had already briefed me on the possibility.

“There is nothing executive about that, that’s what she has said to the media, it did not come to us that he had been arrested.

“As soon as he is arrested, it will come to me and when he is charged, he will have to carry out what is stated in the laws.”

Mr Prasad said the matter was now with his lawyer and he would not make any further comments.

“As I said, my lawyers have been handling the complaint from the beginning, my lawyers have communicated with FICAC, and made it very clear that there is no basis in the allegation and no basis of charge,” Mr Prasad said.

“That’s where the matter ends for me and I don’t wish to make any further comments.”

Fiji Sun reached out to the newly appointed FICAC Commissioner Barbara Malimali last night on whether she will reassess Mr Prasad’s charges.

Ms Malimali has yet to respond when this edition went to press.

Meanwhile, Ms Malimali is the second successful candidate appointed to the substantial position. Rashmi Aslam was the first FICAC Commissioner since it was established in 2007. Mr Aslam assumed the post in 2012.

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