PM seeks legal advice on Pryde charges
Any decision on the suspension of DPP Christopher Pryde will depend on legal advice from the Solicitor-General.
Tuesday 05 August 2025 | 17:00
Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka says any decision on the suspension of Director of Public Prosecutions Christopher Pryde will depend on legal advice from the Solicitor-General.
This comes after the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) laid corruption charges against Mr Pryde and initiated formal extradition proceedings to bring him back from New Zealand.
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Speaking to this masthead yesterday, Mr Rabuka said he was aware of the charges but would not comment further.
“No, I cannot comment because it is before the court. So, it will depend on the advice I get from the Solicitor General’s Office as Chief Advisor to me as Chair of the Constitutional Offices Commission,” the Prime Minister said.
Three charges totalling over $193,000
FICAC has charged Mr Pryde with two counts of abuse of office relating to unauthorised gratuity payments totalling $138,445.05 and airfare reimbursements of $47,053.03 for his wife and child, who were not residing with him in Fiji.
A third charge alleges that he failed to return $7,828.56 in airline ticket refunds to the DPP’s office in 2022.
The case has been adjourned to September 15 for an update on the extradition process.
Pryde denies wrongdoing
In a statement, Mr Pryde strongly denied the allegations and claimed there was a “concerted effort to keep me out of Fiji and prevent me from resuming my duties.”
He accused President Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu of being misled by his legal advisors, including Chief Justice Salesi Temo, Chief Registrar Tomasi Bainivalu, and Acting Attorney-General Siromi Turaga — all of whom he claimed were adversely named in the recent Commission of Inquiry report.
Mr Pryde was reinstated as DPP in January after being cleared by a three-member tribunal. He said the current charges arise from the same investigation file used in previous cases against him more than two years ago.
He also claimed his salary had been suspended again after he declined to return to Fiji without an assurance he would not be unilaterally suspended.
