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FIJI WANTING ANSWERS. BEN KUSH, 'Why isn't Biman charged yet, for non-declaration? Did he declare all his assets to the FEO or not? Simple question. Fijileaks: No, he LIED and HID them. FLP: 'Charge PRASAD'

9/9/2024

Fijileaks: The NFP leader, Deputy Prime Minister, and Finance Minister Biman Prasad, after coming out of a $12,000 party at taxpayers expense at GPH, when questioned about the $200,000 he gave to his wife Rajni Kaushal Chand and Ganesh Chand to organise the two day girmit conference, told local TV that FLP leader Mahendra Chaudhry was a CHOR (Thief), a compulsive liar, and a convicted criminal who was hiding $2million in Australia. As a result, Chaudhry should not question him about the 'girmit* money' that he gave to his wife and Ganesh Chand, trustees of the Global Girmit Institute.
How could Prasad give $200,000 to GGI when in his 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024 statutory declarations, Biman Prasad doesn't declare that his wife Rajni was, and still is, a TRUSTEE.
FICAC must charge this man with 16 counts of failing to declare his wife's association with the GGI, as he is required by law in the Political Parties Act. FULL STOP.
And other charges he was facing, when he went into hiding last Tuesday.
Who the hell is RICHARD NAIDU to allegedly tell the Coalition government and FICAC when to charge or not to charge his chamcha and Fiji's Finance Minister Prasad.
In fact, both should be investigated over the Fiji Water TAX break in the Budget.
If the rumour of Naidu's alleged interference has any substance, he must be charged with attempting to pervert the cause of justice.
As for Barbara Malimail, she must let FICAC investigators who have spent months on the case arrest, charge, and present Fiji's Finance Minister in the court.
She is NOT there to thwart Prasad's case that was ready to proceed last Thursday.

Checking FICAC Update News?

REEAZ ALI is on the Richard Naidu chaired Fiscal Review Committee that was appointed by Fiji's Finance Minister Biman Chand Prasad

In the last 36 hours, according to his own admission, he was very busy - opening the Kimaya House, in Tavua

DOWNGRADED. Ironically, on 8 September, Biman Prasad was one notch down in status, from Professor Biman Prasad to Dr Biman Prasad

FACE UP TO BIMANGATE. His case is more than that of making FALSE declarations under the Political Parties Act. Our investigation suggests serious alleged criminal acts as Lotus (Fiji) Director. He must be charged

8/9/2024

CRYSTAL BALL GAZING INTO THE CHARGES. Prasad claimed to FBC News that his lawyers have spoken to FICAC and rejected any basis of charges. Absurd. Unless the charges were read out to him, how do his lawyers know the nature of the charges? It was most likely after he was tipped off on the impending arrest. He avoided FICAC since last Tuesday, and on Thursday, he narrowly escaped meeting his Political WATERLOO.
Our cavalry, however, is in hot pursuit of bringing him to justice.
Napoléon Bonaparte: 'Victory belongs to the most persevering.'*

BIMAN PRASAD'S FACEBOOK SUPPORTERS:
It has been brought to our attention that one Facebook commentator, PRAMESH SHARMA, is calling on new FICAC Commissioner Barbara Malimali to use her first thirty days in office to thoroughly review all ongoing investigations, seek independent advice, and only proceed with charges when she is fully convinced that legal breaches have occurred.
Similarly, Sharma continues: In Biman's case, who is the complainant, and if this case proceeds to trial, will the complainant be available in Fiji to testify?
Is this an abuse of office or just a clarification issue regarding the Declaration of Assets?
Fijileaks* to Pramesh Sharma. It's an Abuse of Office and is not merely a clarification issue regarding the declaration of assets. The charges carry a $50,000 fine or ten years imprisonment under the Political Parties Act.
Biman Prasad lied in his declarations, hid his directorship, lived under the same roof with his wife, Dr Rajni Kaushal Chand, and claimed he was the sole owner of one of the houses until we found that he and his wife were joint owners. How did we find out?
The couple jointly sold one of the houses to Lotus (Fiji) for $550,000, a company in which he holds 50% of shares with SUNIL CHAND.
We understand that the original complainant has also lodged complaints against others, but what matters is whether the allegations can stand up to scrutiny.
In Biman Prasad's case, we are discovering that some of her cases have merit, and we are discovering more every day. We understand that the complainant lodged her case with the Supervisor of Elections in February, and after reviewing Prasad's statutory declarations, the Supervisor of Elections sent the case to FICAC in April.
Last Thursday, after months of investigation, FICAC was ready to charge Prasad, but other events intervened, and Fiji's Finance Minister escaped, albeit temporarily. FICAC had obtained independent legal advice to begin laying charges against NFP leader and Finance Minister Prasad.
We take it Sharma has heard of ZOOM. During the Covid lockdown, many criminal trials continued via Zoom.
After the untimely death of acting DPP David Toganivalu, his replacement, John Rabuku, did not halt the cases against Frank Bainimarama, Sitiveni Qiliho and Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum.
Two, Bainimarama and Qiliho, are serving prison sentences for trying to halt the criminal investigations into USP.
Barbara Malimali must allow her FICAC investigators to charge Biman Prasad as was planned last Thursday.
She can add new charges as we provide FICAC with our findings of falsehoods, omissions, and blatant lies in Prasad's statutory declarations from 2014 to 2024, with Police conducting a separate criminal investigation into his directorship of Lotus (Fiji) Ltd.
Our investigation reveal that Biman Prasad did not declare that his wife owns two units worth $300,000 (in today's value, maybe $2million) in the Westville Villa complex, owned by Prasad and Sunil Chand.
Prasad also didn't disclose the two units he bought Off-Plan from Sunil Chand on 12 March 2014, three days before, on 15 March 2014, the two registered Lotus (Fiji) Ltd. Sunil Chand gifted him a 5% share, and the following year, another 45% = 50%.
*Under the Political Parties Act, Prasad is required to declare whether the shares were gift, for he didn't contribute a cent towards the building of the 28 units in Westville, Legalega, Nadi.

LASULASU-JHOOT: Was NFP leader and former USP Professor of Economics and Accountancy Biman Prasad suffering from the onset of dementia in 2014 when he sat down to fill the statutory declaration form? He failed to declare that he jointly owned a house with his wife and USP lecturer, Dr Rajni Kaushal Chand?
FICAC Commissioner Barbara Malimali should press on with the charges prepared by her FICAC investigators. It is not 'a political witch hunt' of Biman Prasad.
He has committed multiple breaches of the Political Parties Act between 2014 and 2024. Our investigation into his statutory political declarations raise some serious questions, especially since he is not only the Finance Minister but also the FRCA line manager.
For example, we discovered that he claimed to be the sole proprietor of a house with a Certificate of Title No 11097.
But according to our search, Biman Prasad and his wife Rajni Kaushal Chand had bought the property in September 2009.
In his declarations under the Political Parties Act, Prasad kept claiming that he was the sole owner of that property.
In the 2017 declaration, he merely states: 'CT11907 has been sold.'
Our investigation revealed that the couple jointly owned it until 2016, when they sold it to Lotus Construction (Fiji) Ltd on 19 January 2016 for $550,000.
Biman Prasad is a joint director at Lotus (Fiji) and holds a 50% share of the company.
Since the couple are vendors, a thorough investigation must be launched by FRCA to establish whether, as vendors, one or both paid the Capital Gains Tax when they sold it to Lotus (Fiji).
*Meanwhile, FICAC must press charges against Prasad regarding the house (CT11907) and other multiple breaches beginning in 2014 and continuing until 2024.

From Fijileaks Archive, 22 September 2014

BIMAN, GONE ROGUE WITH HIS STATUTORY DECLARATIONS?
On 22 September 2014, when he became NFP leader and parliamentarian, BIMAN PRASAD translated for me from Hindi* into English the then FFP MP Ashneel Sudhakar's subtle attack on me for questioning some of his FACEBOOK postings.

MERA SAJINI but when it came to his declarations, World's Apart
10 December 2022

2014: Striding into Parliament with Ashneel Sudhakar not far behind

दो (2) Bigha Zamin, Lotus Tours, Global Girmit Institute. Biman Prasad's baimaangiri in his statutory declarations. His fraudulent breaches call for RFMF to invoke its powers and forcibly remove him as Finance Minister

7/9/2024

PROFESSOR TO POLITICIAN:
How could someone who spent all his academic career teaching university students how to prepare accounts (truthfully) fail to present honestly his own (and his wife's) income, assets, property, shares, and thousands of dollars in banks under the Political Parties Act 2013? Was he out to deceive the taxman? Or was he hiding them from Aiyaz Khaiyum?
Shockingly, it went on for Ten years, Fiji, 10 YEARS.
Fijileaks spent the last three months scouring through his declarations.
In his recent FBC TV interview, he arrogantly dismissed the allegations, claiming his lawyers have written to FICAC. Well, he was referring to the first batch of complaints against him in February: GGI and a few others.
*We tested the original complaint and found several more, including his role in the formation of Lotus (Fiji) and, more seriously, the possible evasion of thousands of dollars in Capital Gains Tax, that warrant an immediate investigation by the Director of the Criminal Investigations Department and Fiji Revenue and Customs Service (FCRS),
We will be handing our file on Lotus (Fiji) and CGT to the Fiji Police.
We once again call on FICAC to charge him, and failing that, for the RFMF to invoke its powers in the Constitution of Fiji and remove him as Finance Minister and DPM.
The Ministor for Finance maintains control over public spending, sets the direction of Fiji's economic policy and strives to achieve strong and sustainable economic growth.
FCRS, currently under the control of his NZ buddy - doodwallah or soodoo- is empowered, among other duties, to catch TAX DODGERS.

Professor Biman Chand Prasad, NFP leader, CV
After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in mathematics and economics from the University of the South Pacific, he pursued a Masters of Commerce from the University of New South Wales and Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Queensland.

Prasad became a lecturer at the University of the South Pacific in 1986. He was President of the USP staff Association from 1999 - 2006, head of the School of Economics from 2003 to 2007, and Professor of Economics and Dean of the faculty of Business and Economics from 2007 to 2011.

He is Associate Editor of the Journal of Fijian Studies and Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Pacific Studies. Professor Prasad has published several books and journal articles. He has done consultancy work for many regional and international agencies and governments in the South Pacific region.

In April 2014, Prasad resigned as Professor of Economics from the University of the South Pacific to pursue a political career. He continues to hold Adjunct Professorships at the Griffith University, James Cook University and Punjabi University in Patiala, India.

Fijileaks: After we finish with his statutory declarations, we will reveal Biman Prasad, his wife and Ganesh Chand's role in Pacific Polytech.
Prasad has handed over $6million of taxpayers' money to PP.

Biman Prasad gave $200,000 of taxpayers' money to his wife and his chamcha* Ganesh Chand, trustees of the Global Girmit Institute, to organise a two-day international girmit conference at USP, where his wife Rajni Chand is a lecturer.
Did the Two Chands, Rajni and Ganesh, receive 'a corrupt benefit'?
How can Prasad give money to an Institute when he does not admit its existence in his declarations? Under the Political Parties Act, he must disclose his wife's affiliations with any corporation or other organisation in Fiji or abroad held by her, Rajni Kaushal Chand.
After Fijileaks* had exposed his wife as a trustee of the GGI, Prasad went on the offensive, and deploying the LYING TRAITS that he used in his statutory declarations, claimed that his wife was a former GGI and that he declared to the Coalition Cabinet of his wife's link to GGI, who approved the $200,000.
But where it mattered, legally, in the Political Parties Act, he never mentioned that his wife was a trustee, as required by law.
Therefore, he should be charged under the Political Parties Parties Act.
$60,000 LAND. Similarly, while as director of Lotus Tours and Transfers Ltd, he had put a plot of land in Matasawalevu to obtain a bank loan for the company. He never declared that he owned that plot of land worth $60,000 in his declarations.
He should be charged for failing to disclose the $60,000 worth of land.
*He should be charged with failing to declare that his wife was (is) a TRUSTEE of the Global Girmit Institute. The two Chands and a third trustee, Hirdesh Sharma, should be considered for the charge of obtaining corrupt benefit, which is $200,000.

In its '2016 Lotus Tours & Transfers Ltd Business Proposal', the company was seeking for refinance of existing debts and additional funding for purchase of fleet for operation of car rental business from HFC Bank. The total debt subsequent to successful refinance and additional funding sought was stated at $802,500.
The total funding, the 'Business Proposal' claimed would be secured against the following securities to be pledged by the company and the Directors (Prasad, Chand and Kumar) as follows:
* 1st Registered Mortgage Debenture
First Registered Mortgage over Residential Property comprised in Crown Lease 12167, being Lot 25 on SO 1878, situated at Bulai Rd, Laucala Beach Estate, Suva, with current market valuation of $400,000.
First registered mortgage given by Biman Chand Prasad over residential property comprised in Certificate of Title 27032, being Lot 9 on DP 5799, situated at Matasawalevu, with current market valuation of $60,000.
*Biman Prasad did not declare this piece of land in his statutory declarations.

From Fijileaks Archive, 8 August 2024

When did Biman Prasad wake up in bed and discover that his WIFE was a founding TRUSTEE of the Global Girmit Institute since 2017?
Was it in May 2023 when he was caught out giving $200,000 to his wife and Ganesh Chand of the GGI during the Girmit celebrations? FICAC must act against Biman Prasad, read to him the Political Parties Act

How can Prasad have handed $200,000 of public funds to his wife's Global Girmit Institute (when in his declarations to the Fiji Elections Office he doesn't mention her association with GGI) but later, when exposed by Fijileaks, he claimed that he had told the Coalition government Cabinet of his wife's link to GCI?
If so, how come he had omitted to disclose to the Registrar of Political Parties in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2023 that his wife was a trustee of the Global Girmit Institute?
The GGI was de-registered in 2022 after it had failed to submit its accounts, but the trustees re-registered it in 2023.
BIMAN PRASAD must be charged and fronted before the court.
Our revelations regarding the falsehood and omissions in his statutory declarations from 2014 to 2024 and his controversial dealings as director of Lotus (Fiji) Ltd (50% share) are far more comprehensive and exhaustive with supportive documents, compared to the original complaint that was filed against him by a complainant (NOT us) in February 2024.
When he went on FBC TV to rubbish the claims, he was talking about the original complaint filed against him on 12 February 2024.

Deputy Prime Minister Professor Biman Prasad says his lawyers are handling the matter regarding Acting Deputy FICAC Commissioner Francis Puleiwai wanting to sanction charges against the MP. Puleiwai had earlier today written a letter to the Minister for Justice Siromi Turaga where it’s stated that FICAC is looking at laying charges against Prasad in relation to a complaint against him dealing with his asset, income and liabilities declaration. Prasad has told FBC News that his lawyers have already communicated with FICAC and rejected any basis of charges and then that he will not be making any further comments.

From Fijileaks Archive, 28 February 2024

Ms Ana Mataiciwa,
Acting Supervisor Fiji Elections,
Fiji Elections Office,
Suva, Fiji

12th February 2024.

Dear Ms Mataiciwa,

Re: Party Leader- Biman Prasad- False and Non Declaration under the Political Parties
Act 2014.

I am writing this letter to lodge an official complaint regarding one Biman Prasad who is the Party Leader of the National Federation Party which is currently in the Coalition Government.

I note that Biman Prasad has declared that his income being $188,000 per annum, however he failed to declare the FNFP contribution as it added on top of his salary under the Parliamentary Remuneration Act 2014, excluding his personal contribution as required by law (Attached as exhibit 1- Parliamentary Remuneration Act 2014). I state the following:

1. Under section 24 (1)(A) (B) (i) which stipulate one must declare total assets whether in Fiji or Abroad (including money and other property) in their possession or under their control. Therefore, I argue that FNPF contributions and any funds is considered personal property as one can have access to funds as stipulated in the withdrawal provisions of the fund being FNPF. Therefore, Biman Prasad should have declared his contributions and the amount held by FNPF. I note the case precedent used by Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum whereby in one of his previous declarations he declared his FNFP declarations. Therefore, the same must apply in this case.

2. I note that Biman Prasad failed to declare his travel allowances during his overseas travel and the amounts he received. That evidence is in office and can be verified upon your perusal of his declaration.

3. I noted that Biman Prasad failed to declare that he is the Governor of the Asian Development Bank in Fiji. As that position is not Gazette to him under the Parliamentary Remuneration Act 2014 it is thus separate to his Minister of Finance Post- which must be declared under section 24 (1) (ab) (iv) of the Political Parties Act where a person must declare any directorship or other office in a corporation or other organisation whether in Fiji or Abroad held by each of them. In support I attach exhibit 2- Asian Development Bank Documents stating that Biman Prasad is Governor of the Reserve Bank.

4. I note that Biman Prasad did not declare that his wife one Dr Rajni Chand is the trustee of the Global Girmit Institute and that it facilitated the funds of $200,000 given by the Coalition Government. The Not for Profit Organisation was re-registered in 2023, after it deregistered in February 2022 for failing to supply its financial statements as required under the laws of Fiji. The period of re-registration falls within the required period upon which Biman Prasad is required to declare in his 2023 Financial Declaration (Attached is exhibit 3- Global Institute Deed of Trust and
Registration Documents).

5. I note that Biman Prasad did not declare his connection to Ganesh Chand and Hirdesh Sharma whom are the registered Trustees of the Global Girmit Institute upon whom received $200,000 of Tax payers funds. This is a breach under section 24

(a) (b) (iii) of the Political Parties Act. I submit that no tender was called in relation to the event organisation.

6. I note that Biman Prasad declared that he owns 50 percent shares in Lotus Construction Pte Limited, however upon obtaining the registration documents and the Article of Association – it was established that Biman Prasad only has a 5 percent share in Louts Construction and not the 50 percent share he claims in his declaration (Attached as exhibit 4- Lotus Construction Pte Limited Registration Documents and the Article of Association). Fijileaks: Corrective. Our investigation reveal that Sunil Chand gifted Biman Prasad 5% shares in Lotus (Fiji) when they registered the company on 15 March 2014. The next year, Chand transferred 45% shares out of his 95%, making Prasad a 50% shareholder in Lotus (Fiji). Prasad did not reveal the identity of Lotus from 2014 to 2022 until he became Finance Minister. He revealed the identity in his 2023 statutory declaration.

6.2. The document was re-lodged in 2022 with the date of the Article of Association dated and signed in 2014 and upon which the re- registration occurred in 2022.

7. I note that one of the directors of Lotus Construction upon which Biman Prasad has shares in is Sunil Chand (Please refer to exhibit 4). Biman Prasad did not declare the business connection with Sunil Chand who has the same Lotus Construction company in Australia thus being a breach under section 24 (a) (b) (iii) of the Political Parties Act 2014 (Attached is exhibit 5- Louts [Lotus] Construction registration in Australia).

8. Biman Prasad’s spouse Dr Rajni Prasad [Chand] did not declare that she is Chairperson to Femlink Pacific (Please note she has held this position 2009 to date), therefore being a breach under 24 (1a) (d) of the Political Parties Act (Attached is exhibit 6- Femlink Document stipulating that Dr Rajni Prasad is the Chairman of the organisation). Dr Rajni Chand may/may not be receiving a salary from this post nonetheless it was a non-declaration.

9. I note that Biman Prasad and Dr Rajni Chand have not declared under section 24 (1) (a,b (iii) and 24 (1A) (c) of the Political Parties Act 2014 their business transaction to one Dr Ganesh Chand who is the co-trustee of the Global Girmit Institutre as previously mentioned. However, due to the business transaction the fact must be taken into account is that Biman Prasad allocated $1 million to Pacific Polytech whose Advisor is Dr Ganesh Chand. Please note that there was no tender process in line with the Laws of Fiji. Please note that Pacific Polytech has not submitted that their Audit reports as required. The funds was transferred in 2022 to Pacific Polytech.

I therefore submit this complaint for the breaches under the Political Parties Act 2014 upon which I understand that whilst some elements of this complaint cannot be handled by your office.

You must, therefore, refer the matter to FICAC under section 18 of the Political Parties Act.

*Complainant's name withheld by Fijileaks.

From Fiji Sun Archives, 2007 and 2008: Warning to Biman Prasad

LOTUS (Fiji) SOLD 'NIRVANA VILLAS' TO INVESTORS. BIMAN Prasad and SUNIL Chand's grand plan to build villas at Westville, Legalega, in Nadi, 2014. A decade later, sub-lessees still waiting for TLTB Strata titles

6/9/2024

EVICTION THREAT: In fact, some lessees have been evicted, some have been threatened with eviction and re-possession of their flats/units, with Lotus (Fiji) accusing the TLTB of not proceeding with the strata titles and creating other difficulties. Legal notices to sub-lessees:
'Your Occupation is Illegal'.
*We will bring you more on evictions and threats of eviction later.

"The purpose of this proposal is to request TLTB to issue One Head Lease and 30 subleases to the owners of 30 Villas constructed on iTaukei land."

DEVELOPMENT PROPOSAL AND CONCEPT PLAN FOR LOT 1, WESTFIELD SUBDIVISION, NLTB 6/10/4572, LEGALEGA, NADI

The Proposal

The purpose of this proposal is to request TLTB to issue One Head Lease and 30 subleases to the owners of 30 Villas constructed on iTaukei land, described above. The units have not been sold yet will remain under the head lessee. The current list of owners is attached.

The unit title concept/sublease is not new to Fiji as various large scale high end projects e.g. Sheraton Villas at Denarau, Hilton Villas, have used the concept especially in the sale and management of crown land based developments. It may be relatively new when the concept is applied to iTaukei Land. Strata/Unit title concept of apartments, units and villas are the most common method of property developments in Australia and New Zealand.

The strata based ownership has a number of advantages when compared to free standing home and stand-alone properties.

Benefits to Owners

Cost effectively

It is much more cost effective to own strata based units as the cost of land, construction & infrastructure is shared with many owners. Generally speaking strata titles are around 50% of the cost of stand-alone fully detailed premises.

Security

Providing 24/7 security guards and a gated compound is highly desirable especially to foreign owners, who may not have permanent occupancy of their units.

Services

Strata units are more cost effective as they share the common infrastructure, cost of roads, water supply, sewerage, internet and telephone and electricity. The proposed developments have standard connection to all these services, including electricity substantiation.

Fully self-contained

The apartment are developed and marketed as fully self-contained with all household contents e.g. bedding, kitchen appliances, laundry appliances and furniture included in the purchase. It is providing attraction to buyers who do not need additional funds to purchase these once the house is complete.

International Buyers

International buyers are well familiar with the strata concept and because of cost effectivity, ideal location, security and maintenance aspects particularly suits international investors, mostly former Fiji national now living abroad.

Ownership Flexibility

Strata/Unit title properties are sold as unit by unit basis, rather than a company title, where one owner owns and does not need to sell the whole development. Due to the flexibility, it creates liquidity in the sale and purchase of apartments and better capital growth for the owners.

Location

The development is situated around a km from the Nadi International Airport and in a growth corridor in Fiji. It is ideal for the growing needs of the Nadi Development precinct given that much of Nadi is subject to regular and periodic flooding.

International Quality Finish

The development has been completed based on Australian standards and used all first quality materials and finish. It has involved specialist and trades people from Australia, working and supervising local workers. Finishing materials were bought from overseas, including Australia and China.

Benefits to Community

Additional Accommodation

Western Fiji is currently struggling to have sufficient accommodation for the demand that has been generated. This strata concept of 30 dwellings is ideal to providing high end residential accommodation to visitors and business people, and international employees.

Creating a Community

A gated community mixing people of all background creates a modern village community. It encourages neighbourhood and breaks down traditional social barriers. It creates, encourages and fosters community spirit and sharing.

Resource Allocation

Use of higher density living and compact infrastructure means that the cost to society to provide the services is much more cost effective.

Industry

By having international organisations and trades people working with local employees creates a perfect training ground for local interns and apprentices. In long term it will help cement a better quality of trade’s people locally.

Employment

The project provided employment to 100’s of trades people and unemployed people during construction work and permanent roles for property manager, gardeners and security personnel and cleaners and maintenance people.

Benefits to TLTB & Traditional Owners

Unique Land Utilisation

Rather than buying large parcels of land to individual buyers by having a master lease (Head Lease) and an individual leases, it provides a higher land utilisation. Quality land is already at premium in high growth corridors and Namaka to Nadi Corridor is an example, it encourages better land utilisation. It also reduces the conversion of previously agricultural land for residential housing.

Increase in Rental Income

TLTB will be able to increase its Head lease and individual rental to the owners. Current Head Lease rental is $320/year. We are anticipating and recommending that the Head Lease be increased to $3,200 per annum; which is 10 fold increase over the current lease payment. We also recommend that individual sub-lease holders not be charged any rent. This will simplify the collection of rent by TLTB.

Future Opportunities

The strata/unit structure that has been presented to TLTB is a unique and futuristic way to manage land utilisation and maximum return to the iTaukei land owners. As the metro land gets in shorter supply, residential dwellings and land block will shrink leading to high density utilisation. We recommend that TLTB not only approve this strata planning but consider implementing/conditioning that higher value residential land be subject to strata based structure. Strata or Unit based development is a common for commercial units across the developed countries as has been the stratisation (strategization) for residential development.

Design Plans

Please refer to detail Plans for 30 Units provided
Specific Features of the project included

Gated, fully secure community
Location ideal for international investors and travellers
Fully serviced apartment. Please refer to the list of inclusions per apartment
High standard finish (Australian Standard)
Infrastructure includes
Town water
Sewer Connection
Grid based electricity supply
Own transformer
Telecom connections
Internet-wired and wireless connection
Sell of a unit by unit basis thus creating liquidity within the property

Contractual Rights and Obligations

The agreement is governed by the Laws of the Republic of Fiji Islands and all parties submit to the exclusive jurisdiction to the courts of Fiji Islands. An aspect to any disputes arising out of the agreement of the contract of sale and purchase of property in Fiji is regulated by the Land Transfer Act. The Land sales Act regulates the sale and purchase of Land to non-residents. The terms of the contract of sale and purchase (copy attached) contains specific rights and obligations of owners and tenants.

All current and future owners will execute the contract and accept the terms of ownership.

Specific “neighbourhood Rules” a (copy attached) will be part of the contract of sale and purchase and will be binding on all owners, land lords, tenants and visitors. These rules may be updated by the Strata Committee.
The Strata Committee will comprise a minimum of 25% of all owners (Equity owners) and have the overall jurisdiction on neighbourhood rules. This community will engage professional like real estate managers, gardeners, maintenance and security officers to maintain the upkeep of the property.

Future Prospects

Lotus Construction (Fiji) Ltd is engaging to team up with TLTB to champion and provide technical assistance and to build similar unit based accommodation in areas of high public demand on TLTB land.

We are currently negotiating with various developers/land owners to find suitable land for future similar developments.

The strata systems (Unit Based Ownership) as has been described and implemented in Westfield subdivision by Lotus, could become the benchmark framework for further high density development by other developers on TLTB land.

This will not only provide better accommodation, comparatively reduce the cost of accommodation at the same time give TLTB significantly increase in rental earnings. Once the concept has been accepted and understood within the Fijian Real Estate industry it will allow the developments outside the metro area, giving substantial benefits to all parties; owners, government, community and TLTB included.

Coalition's Finance Minister Biman Prasad bought two units Off-Plan on 12 March 2014 but we don't know if he still owns the two units. He didn't declare the two units in his statutory declarations from 2014 to 2024. Three days after buying the two units, Biman Chand and his first cousin Sunil Chand formed Lotus Construction (Fiji) Ltd on 15 March 2014. Prasad was gifted a five per cent share in the company, and a year later, in 2015, was gifted another 45 per cent share by Sunil Chand, and currently holds 50 per cent shares in Lotus (Fiji).

BIMAN PRASAD was not included in Graham Leung's Statement. In the ping-pong tussle between Francis Puleiwai and Barbara Malimali, Prasad was not mentioned, so FICAC must press on with Charges against him

6/9/2024

FICAC Commissioner Barbara Malimali should press on with the charges prepared by her FICAC investigators. It is not 'a political witch hunt' of Biman Prasad.
He has committed multiple breaches of the Political Parties Act between 2014 and 2024. Our investigation into his statutory political declarations raise some serious questions, especially since he is not only the Finance Minister but also the FRCA line manager.
For example, we discovered that he claimed to be the sole proprietor of a house with a Certificate of Title No 11097.
But according to our search, Biman Prasad and his wife Rajni Kaushal Chand had bought the property in September 2009.
In his declarations under the Political Parties Act, Prasad kept claiming that he was the sole owner of that property.
In the 2017 declaration, he merely states: 'CT11907 has been sold.'
Our investigation revealed that the couple jointly owned it until 2016, when they sold it to Lotus Construction (Fiji) Ltd on 19 January 2016 for $550,000.
Biman Prasad is a joint director at Lotus (Fiji) and holds a 50% share of the company.
Since the couple are vendors, a thorough investigation must be launched by FRCA to establish whether, as vendors, one or both paid the Capital Gains Tax when they sold it to Lotus (Fiji).
*Meanwhile, FICAC must press charges against Prasad regarding the house (CT11907) and other multiple breaches beginning in 2014 and continuing until 2024.

Attorney-General Graham Leung's Statement: No mention of Prasad

5 SEPTEMBER 2024: He had been dodging arrest since last Tuesday but FICAC decided to arrest him on Thursday 5 September. Who ordered the departed Deputy Commissioner Puleiwai not to arrest Finance Minister?

5/9/2024

FIRST COUNT
Statement of Offence
ATTEMPTED TO PERVERT THE COURSE OF JUSTICE: Contrary to section 190 (e) of the Crimes Act 2009.
Particulars of Offence
JOSAIA VOREQE BAINIMARAMA sometime between July 2020 and September 2020 at Suva in the Central Division, attempted to pervert the course of justice by telling Sitiveni Tukaituraga Qiliho , the Commissioner of Police of the Republic of Fiji to stay away from the USP investigations that was reported under CID/HQ PEP 12/07/2019.

SECOND COUNT
Statement of Offence
ABUSE OF OFFICE: Contrary to section 139 of the Crimes Act 2009
Particulars of Offence
SITIVENI TUKAITURAGA QILIHO on the 15th day of July 2020 at Suva in the Central Division being employed in the civil service as the Commissioner of Police of the Republic of Fiji, directed the Director of Criminal Investigations Department Serupepeli Neiko and Inspector Reshmi Dass to stop investigations into the police complaint involving CID/HQ PEP 12/07/2019, in abuse of the authority of his office, which was an arbitrary act prejudicial to the rights of University of the South Pacific which is the Complainant in CID/HQ PEP 12/07/2019.

SENTENCE
*I start with a sentence of 2 years imprisonment. For the aggravating factors, I add 2 years, making a total of 4 years imprisonment. For the mitigating factors, I deduct 2 years leaving a balance of 2 years imprisonment.

*For Count No. 2, I sentence the second Respondent to 2 years imprisonment.

*As required by section 4 (1) of the Sentencing and Penalties Act 2009, the purpose of the above sentence was to punish you in a manner which was just in the circumstances; to protect the community, to deter others from committing the same offence and to signify that the court and community denounce what you did in Count No. 2.

In summary, the first respondent is sentenced to 1 year imprisonment, while the second respondent is sentenced to 2 years imprisonment. Both sentences are to take effect immediately.

*Both respondents have 30 days to appeal to the Court of Appeal.

*Before I leave this case, given the first respondent’s health conditions, I order and direct that the Commissioner of Prison and/or his nominee, with his/her medical team, to meet and work out a medical care plan, with the first respondent’s doctor, and/or Doctor Joji Malani, to map out the first respondent’s continued use of the CPAP machine therapy, the use and charging of his mobile phone for his pace maker recording, continued medication and other medical issues of concern raised by the first respondent’s doctor, while he is in the State’s custody. *Although he will be in the State’s custody, he is to be treated humanely. Both parties are at liberty to raise any medical care issues with the Court, at any time, on a three days notice.
I order so accordingly.
Salesi Temo
Acting Chief Justice

Frank Bainimarama and Sitiveni Qiliho are languishing in PRISON after Acting Chief Justice SALESI TEMO overturned NOT guilty verdicts and jailed the two for trying to stop investigation into USP affairs.
As acting Deputy FICAC Commissioner Francis Puleiwai still had the powers at her disposal to arrest the evasive Fiji's Finance Minister BIMAN PRASAD. According to FICAC, he kept making excuses since Tuesday.
The in-coming FICAC director Barbara Malimali had no powers to order, if she is the one who had directed Puleiwai not to arrest Prasad, until she had taken control of FICAC, and even then she should have stayed out.
Basically, until Malimali had started as Commissioner, FICAC, Puleiwai putatively and legally remained in charge of FICAC and its staff.
When she ordered fugitive Prasad's arrest, she had not tendered in her resignation as acting Deputy Commissioner.
Puleiwai was under no obligation to inform Attorney-General Graham Leung and Justice Minister Siromi Turaga of her plan, for since both are in Cabinet, the likelihood of tipping off Prasad to evade arrest for more days until Malimali had physically taken control of FICAC, was a very real possibility. Out of courtesy, she informed Turaga in advance.
Imagine an in-coming Chief Justice had ordered the acting Chief Justice Salesi Temo NOT to sentence Bainimarama and Qiliho because it was his task to review the trial evidence before sentencing - simply bullocks.
Temo would have screamed that such order or instruction from an in-coming Chief Justice was Abuse of Office and the Attempt to Pervert the Cause of Justice.
Who ordered Francis Puleiwai NOT to arrest BIMAN PRASAD?
In recent weeks, we handed most of our evidence against Prasad to FICAC, to supplement its own investigation into BIMANGATE.
*We stand by our position that Fiji's Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Prasad must be charged under the Political Parties Act, even if some of the breaches were minor, which they were not, from 2014-2024.

WHAT a Bangra on Biman and Barbara while World Bank chief Banga in town. We call on in-coming FICAC Commissioner Malimali to go ahead with charges against Finance Minister in breach of Political Parties Act

5/9/2024

We may recall that a similar drama unfolded, Fiji, when our current Founding Editor-in-Chief, in 2008, had revealed that another Finance Minister (Interim) - Mahendra Chaudhry - in the Bainimarama-Khaiyum interim government - was hiding $2million in his Sydney bank account.
We agree with Attorney-General GRAHAM LEUNG that public officials must uphold the law.
*But, equally, we must NEVER shield anyone who stands accused of serious criminal conduct - especially a serving Cabinet Minister.

In 2008, Fiji was stunned, with Biman Prasad's current chamcha* and chairman of the Fiscal Review Committee RICHARD NAIDU writing to our Editor-in-Chief (me) in February 2008:
'What a CRACKER'
The revelation with documents led to the abduction, torture, and deportation out of Fiji of the late RUSSELL HUNTER, the then Publisher of The Fiji Sun. He was banned from Fiji and died in Australia.
Fiji, in 2014, Chaudhry was found guilty and convicted, as his successor Biman Prasad had reminded us, 'Chaudhry is the Biggest Chor'.
We have incontrovertible evidence against Biman Prasad. We urge Fiji to hold its breath, for Coalition government won't be able to defend him for too long. He had not only breached the Political Parties Act but also stands accused of depriving FRCA of Capital Gains Tax arising out of his 50 per cent shares in the Lotus Construction (Fiji) Ltd.A forensic examination of his statutory declarations from 2014 to 2024 not only led to the breaches, but those breaches led us to his close link with Sunil Chand and Lotus Construction (Fiji) Ltd.
Hence, there should be two parallel investigations. As we called in 2008 for Chaudhry's resignation, we call on Biman Prasad to resign as Fiji's Finance Minister so a full criminal investigation can be launched into the tax affairs of Prasad, his wife Rajni Kaushal Chand, Sunil Chand, and Lotus Construction (Fiji) Ltd.
We, Fiji, say with Martin Luther King Jnr:
'The Arc of the Moral Universe is Long But it Bends Towards Justice.'
Meanwhile, just sit back and enjoy the BANGRA played to you in Fiji.

From Fijileaks Archives

LOTUS AUSTRALIA Director and Finance Minister Biman Prasad's Lotus (Fiji) Co-Director Sunil Chand sold 'Nirvana villas' to Australian Investors. Now, one Credit lending agency wants $300,000 it lent to Chand in 2021

4/9/2024

The Face Behind $4million 'Westville Villas' - Prasad's co-director Chand

In August 2021, Lotus Construction (Australia) director Sunil Chand entered into a Line of Credit facility agreement with an Australian finance company.
He failed to adhere to the repayment schedule for the instalments of the loan, despite demands. The total amount owing is $300,000.
*Last month, the loan company's lawyers served notice on Sunil Chand, demanding immediate reply and payment arrangements within the next seven days.

The Australian lawyers have threatened to issue a default against Sunil Chand's business credit which will remain in force in Australia for five years if enforced.
They have also warned of commencing legal proceedings against him if he fails to satisfactorily settle the $300,000 loan from 2021.
*Where did the $300,000 end up? In Australia or Fiji?

HOUSEGATE: Biman Prasad and ownership of another property CT15460 It seems he lied about second property when he claimed that he was sole owner of CT15460. In 2004 he jointly owned it with his wife RAJNI CHAND

3/9/2024

*On 19 February 2004, CT15460 is listed in the names of Biman Prasad and his wife Rajni Chand

In his 2014 Declaration under the Political Parties Act, he declares that he is the sole owner of CT15460. He repeats it in successive declarations until he becomes Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister in the Coalition government. In his January 2023 declaration he suddenly declares that he and is wife Rajni jointly own CT15460.
FICAC must question the couple and establish when did Biman Prasad make his wife joint owner of CT15460?
*Or like another property (CT11097), he brazenly lied about CT15460 in his declarations until he became Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister in Sitiveni Rabuka's Coalition government.

In 2020, he still maintains that he is the sole owner of CT 15460 but reveals that his wife Rajni Chand is now sole owner of CT18979, market value of a staggering $990,000 (see below).
A search of CT18979 reveal that it was originally owned by the former politician and NFP supporter KRISHNA DATT and his wife who sold it to one LALITA WATI. She transferred it on to Rajni Chand on 4 July 2019.
Who is LALITA WATI?
*Is she the same person who, in 2024, jointly with Rajni Chand held $46,416.54 cash 'at bank'. What bank?

According to documents obtained by us, CT11097 was bought by the couple in September 2009.
In his declarations under the Political Parties Act, Biman Prasad kept claiming that he was the sole owner of that property.
In the 2017 declaration he merely states as follows:
'CT 11907 has been sold'.
Now, it transpires from documents that it was all along jointly owned by the couple until 2016, when they sold it to Lotus Construction (Fiji) Ltd on 19 January 2016 for $550,000.
*Biman Prasad is a Director in Lotus (Fiji) and 50% Shareholder.

13th HIDDEN PLAYER ON THE FOOTBALL PITCH: It beggars belief that co-director SUNIL Chand of Lotus Construction (Fiji) Ltd hid Prasad's link when their company Lotus sponsored the DREKETI Soccer Team in 2015

2/9/2024

FIFA president, Gianni Infantino with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Strategic Planning, National Development and Statistics, Professor Biman Prasad and Fiji Football Association president Rajesh Patel during the opening of the King Pele Fitness Centre at the Fiji Football Association headquarters in Vatuwaqa, Suva on Saturday, August 05, 2023.

Biman Prasad and Sunil Chand had registered Lotus Construction (Fiji) Ltd on 15 March 2014. Prasad was one of two directors of Lotus (Fiji).

13th Hidden Player: 11 players+Sunil Chand+Hidden Biman Prasad=13
In 2016, as director of Lotus Travels & Transfers, Prasad had put up a plot of land in Dreketi worth $60,000 as security to secure loan for LTT.

From The Fiji Sun*, 2 October 2015.

from Dreketi, Macuata, came to the rescue. 'I approached many people for sponsorship and finally Chand, who was born and brought up in Dreketi, understood our need and stepped forward to support us,' team spokesman Jai Karan said.

In its '2016 Lotus Tours & Transfers Ltd Business Proposal', the company was seeking for refinance of existing debts and additional funding for purchase of fleet for operation of car rental business from HFC Bank. The total debt subsequent to successful refinance and additional funding sought was stated at $802,500.
The total funding, the 'Business Proposal' claimed would be secured against the following securities to be pledged by the company and the Directors (Prasad, Chand and Kumar) as follows:
* 1st Registered Mortgage Debenture
First Registered Mortgage over Residential Property comprised in Crown Lease 12167, being Lot 25 on SO 1878, situated at Bulai Rd, Laucala Beach Estate, Suva, with current market valuation of $400,000.
First registered mortgage given by Biman Chand Prasad over residential property comprised in Certificate of Title 27032, being Lot 9 on DP 5799, situated at Matasawalevu, Dreketi, with current market valuation of $60,000.

From Fijileaks Archive, 5 August 2023

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