News
Court Grants Application to Amend Charges Against Prof. Prasad, Pleads Not Guilty
Posted by Media Team 12 August 2026
The Suva Magistrates Court has granted the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption’s (FICAC) application to amend the charges against former Deputy Prime Minister Professor Biman Prasad.
Resident Magistrate Yogesh Prasad delivered his ruling on FICAC’s Application today, whereby Prof. Prasad pleaded not guilty to the amended charges which were read in court.
FICAC has charged Prof. Prasad with 1 Count of Failure to Comply with Statutory Disclosure Requirements where it is alleged that between 30 December 2015 and 31 January 2016, whilst being an office holder of the National Federation Party, he failed to comply with Section 24(1B)(d) of the Political Parties Act 2013 by providing to the office of the registrar his declaration of assets, liabilities and income as at 31 December 2015 without disclosing his directorship in Platinum Hotels and Resorts PTE Limited.
Prof. Prasad is charged with an alternative count of Providing False Information in a Statutory Declaration, whereby it is alleged that on 28 January 2016, being an office holder of a registered political party, namely the National Federation Party, he recklessly provided false information on a statutory declaration submitted to the Registrar of Political Parties under Section 24(1B)(d) of the Political Parties Act 2013 by solemnly declaring that the particular declared in his declaration of assets liabilities and income as at 31 December 2015 were true and complete when the declaration omitted his directorship in Platinum Hotels and Resorts PTE Limited, which omission rendered the declaration false in material particular, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 27(1)(c) of the said act.
In his ruling, RM Prasad said that that the prosecution’s submission is premised that the amendment is minor and no further or new evidence is being introduced to surprise or prejudice the accused in his defence prior to proper trial.
The Court noted the defendant’s submission that the prosecution does not have the right or entitlement to amend the charges as and when it suits them and that if the amendment is allowed, the accused will have to prepare his defence against a different provision of the law.
The Court noted that section 14 2 (b) of the Constitutional rights of an accused will be satisfied with the amendment of the charge by FICAC by providing the accused with accurate provisions of the law under Section 24(5) of the Political Parties Act 2013 for his defence in the overall interest of justice.
The Court, in exercise of its discretionary powers granted leave to FICAC to file and serve the amended charges.
The Court vacated the trial and set a new hearing date from 1 to 4 September 2026.
Prof. Prasad’s bail has been extended.
