News

Court Allows NFP Letter and Search Records into Evidence

Posted by Media Team 09 October 2026

The Suva Magistrates Court has ruled that a National Federation Party (NFP) letter dated 23 June 2014 is admissible as evidence in the case against former Deputy Prime Minister Professor Biman Prasad.

The ruling was delivered by Resident Magistrate Yogesh Prasad on 8 October 2026 following a defence objection to the admissibility of the document on hearsay grounds.

The Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC), which brought the charges against Prof. Prasad, submitted that the original letter formed part of the public records held by the Fijian Elections Office (FEO).

The Court accepted the letter under the public document exception to the hearsay rule and admitted it into evidence.

Resident Magistrate Prasad also ruled that the related search warrant and search records would be admitted into evidence.

The Court clarified that the evidential weight of the documents and the issues surrounding the search and seizure process remain matters to be determined at the conclusion of the trial.

Meanwhile the prosecution has closed its case against Mr Prasad after the final prosecution witness, FEO Manager Legal Mr Mesake Dawai took the stand.

The matter has been adjourned to 14 October 2026 for the Court to hear the no-case-to-answer submissions from the defence and the subsequent response from the prosecution.