Meanwhile, Fiji's Finance Minister Biman Prasad and his tango with Aussie Investor SUNIL CHAND through their company Lotus Construction (Fiji) Ltd. 
*On 12 March 2014, Prasad bought two off-plan units from Sunil Chand, and three days later, on 15 March, they registered Lotus (Fiji).
*He failed to declare the two units in his statutory declarations from
​2014 to 2024.

*However, the two took control of the 18 units, including other units after the five-year lease before the strata titles was to be issued, expired. Full details soon as the unit owners, including PHRL, have taken Lotus (Fiji) and Sunil Chand to court in Fiji.
​*The Westville units are currently managed by New Door Apartments

From Fijileaks Archive, 1 February 2024

*FICAC must question Biman Prasad, and for him to explain if he revealed in his declarations the two villas he bought from off-plan on 12 March 2014, three days before Prasad and Sunil Chand registered Lotus Construction (Fiji) Ltd on 15 March 2014. His declarations regarding houses and land are so vague and slap-dash that only a full criminal investigation will allow us to reach the truth and reconcile his questionable declarations from 2014 to 2024.

*What is Buying Off-Plan? Buying off-plan means you agree to buy a property before the developer has finished building it. You may even agree to buy it before construction has begun.

*On 15 March 2014 Biman Prasad and Sunil Chand registered Lotus Construction (Fiji) Ltd. Prasad was listed as one of the two directors. The other was Sunil Chand. While Chand held 95 shares, Biman Prasad had FIVE shares.
*We now know that a year later, on 2 November 2015, on the completion of the first stage of the villas, Chand suddenly transferred 45% of his shares out of the 95 he held in Lotus (Fiji) to Biman Prasad. 
*Prasad effectively became a partner - director - in the company. It can be asked if it was always the game plan to make Biman Prasad an equal partner in Lotus Construction (Fiji) Ltd?
​*Sunil Chand boasted to the media that it had cost the company $4million to build the villas.
​*Where did Prasad and Chand obtain $4million to build the Westville villas?

*The Sale of Agreement was between Sunil Chand (Vendor) and the Purchaser(s). The Lot was an area of 42 square meters of land and was to be delivered to the purchaser in the form of sub-lease of native land, being the subject, however, to such encumbrances, liens and interest implied in leases under the Property Law Act of Fiji. Purchase price (exclusive of value tax) was $150,000.
​*Deposit - 10% of purchase price - $15,000
*Balance of Purchase Price - 40% close up (slab, external walls and roofs).
*$60,000 and 50% on final completion (handover) - $75,000
Total: $150,000
*The contracts were signed between February-April 2014.
*Most were Indo-Fijians living in Australia, with three residing in Fiji, among them Biman Chand Prasad.
*Three days before Prasad and Chand registered Lotus Construction (Fiji) Ltd on 15 March 2014, Biman Prasad bought the two lots on 12 March.
*Whether he still owns the two lots only a thorough investigation by FICAC and the Supervisor of Elections will provide us the answer.
*What is clear is that we don't see him declaring the ownership of the two lots in his statutory declarations in 2014 (signed on 28 July 2014) nor in subsequent declarations including the 24 July 2024 declaration.
*On 12 March 2014 he buys two units from Sunil Chand's Off-Plan offer
*Three days later, on 15 March 2014, the two form Lotus Construction (Fiji) Ltd to build the Westville villas in Nadi.
*On 29 March 2014 BIMAN PRASAD is elected the leader of the National Federation Party, and leads the party into the 2014, 2018, and 2022 general elections (forms coalition with Sitiveni Rabuka's PAP to fight the 2022 election with the promise of Deputy PM).
*After the 2022 general election, he becomes Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance and line-manager of FRCA, run by his doodwallah (soodoo) buddy UDIT SINGH, brought over from New Zealand.
*Under the Political Parties Act 2014, Biman Prasad is required by law to truthfully and faithfully declare his assets, liabilities and income annually.
*We have called on FICAC to intervene, for his declarations from 2014-2014 are highly questionable and in breach of s24 of the Political Parties Act

*The Chief Registrar v SURESH CHANDRA, MC LAWYERS
*The practitioner (Suresh Chandra) was a Principal of MC Lawyers and Trustee of MC Lawyers Trust Account kept with Bank of Baroda. That trust account is currently frozen. The practitioner is not a holder of a valid practising certificate since 2020.
 *Section 12 of Trust Accounts Act requires a trustee to submit audit reports for each financial period.
*The practitioner did not submit his audit reports for three financial periods from 2016 to 2018. He provided the Chief Registrar with four extensions from the Office of the Attorney-General to submit his pending audit reports. The extension was given pursuant to section 12 (2) of the Trust Accounts Act.
*The last extension was granted until 31 July 2020 for the practitioner to submit his three pending audit reports. After that no further extension was granted and the practitioner’s practising certificate was not renewed.
*Eventually when the Chief Registrar received the pending audit reports, an anomaly of unreconciled sum of $2.139 million trust funds was reflected in the audits reports.

THE INDEPENDENT LEGAL SERVICES COMMISSION
at SUVA.  JUDGEMENT: 23 April 2023, 
Justice Gihan Kulatunga, Commissioner
Conclusion
*Mr.  Suresh Chandra from the inception of these proceedings did not directly accept his responsibility for the failure to maintain the Trust Account on the required minimum standard. Throughout the enquiry, he made all attempts to blame his employee Ms. Ashwini for the embezzlement of the Trust funds.
*Mr. Chandra in fact did not give evidence but remained silent. It is relevant to note that as opposed to an accused in a criminal matter, a practitioner in these disciplinary proceedings does not enjoy a right to remain silent.
*I find that the nature and gravity of the Respondent’s (Suresh Chandra's) misconduct viewed objectively calls for a severe sanction. As discussed earlier, the Respondent’s misconduct included the failure to properly supervise his staff and amongst other things, providing a large number of signed incomplete trust cheques to the employee.
​*In many ways, it is this foundational and fundamental failure that led to the other matters described in the allegations. It is clear that a trust reconciliation, if properly and randomly was conducted within the two-year period would have alerted and revealed the fraudulent manipulation of the trust account balance.
*A timely discovery should have interrupted the scheme of the employee. Essentially, unsupervised staff and the failure to reconcile the trust account on a monthly basis for almost two-years provided the environment for the fraud. The Respondent is responsible through his own casual, careless and cavalier approach in managing the trust account, signing incomplete cheques and his failure to supervise.
*In the above circumstances I make the following orders. 
(a) The name of the Respondent Legal Practitioner Mr.  Suresh Chandra  be struck from the roll of the practitioner’s held by the Chief Registrar.
(b) It is directed that the Law Firm MC Lawyers seized to operate as or engage in legal practice with immediate effect.
(c) That the Respondent Practitioner Mr.  Suresh Chandra  pay a fine in a sum of $500,000 to the Chief Registrar. If and when such fine is paid the Chief Registrar is hereby directed and ordered to pay the said sum to the credit of the Trust Account of MC Lawyers or to otherwise utilize the said sum to meet and settle the sums due to the clients of MC Lawyers.
(d) Pursuant to section 124 of the Legal Practitioners Act 2009, the costs payable by the Respondent towards the reasonable costs incurred by Chief Registrar is summarily assessed in the sum of $2,000.00.
(e) Both of the above sums set out above are to be paid within three months of today, that is, by 12 noon on 26th July 2023, to be paid to the Chief Registrar.

Fijileaks: We had long ago revealed MC Lawyers and Suresh Chand but he was shielded by Aiyaz Khaiyum who was then Minister for Elections and Chandra was the Electoral Commission chairperson.
*We may also recall that NFP leader BIMAN PRASAD had refused to sign a joint letter drafted by FLP, Freedom Alliance, Unity Fiji, calling for the removal of Suresh Chandra as chairperson of Electoral Commission.
​
*We don't know Prasad's reasoning but it is abundantly clear that Suresh Chandra was acutely aware that Biman Prasad had bought two units from the Off-Plan from Chandra's then client SUNIL CHAND on 12 March 2014.

From Fijileaks Archives

*We were repeatedly told that he became a 50% shareholder in Lotus Construction (Fiji) Ltd in 2018. Lotus (Fiji) was formed by SUNIL CHAND, the former Fiji-born carpenter and joiner, who is also Director and Founder of Lotus Construction (Australia).
*On 15 March 2014, Lotus Construction (Fiji) was formed by Chand, with Biman Prasad gifted 5% shares in the company. They built the $4million Westville Villas in Nadi, that former FFP Minister Parveen Bala opened in early 2015. The villas were touted as suiting retirees who wanted to return to Fiji, and other prospective buyers.
*Yesterday, we revealed that the NFP leader, Deputy Prime Minister, and Fiji's FINANCE Minister Prasad had lied in his declarations to the Fiji Elections Office that he was the sole owner of CT1107 house.
*Our investigation reveal that the house was jointly owned by Biman Prasad and his wife Rajni Chand. The couple sold it to Lotus (Fiji) for $550,000 on 19 January 2016. In other words, Biman Prasad sold his house to his own company - Lotus Construction (Fiji).
*Our updated evidence reveal that on 2 November 2015 Sunil Chand transferred 45% of his shares from 95 per cent he held on 15 March 2014 to Biman Prasad, so both now had 50 per cent each shares in Lotus (Fiji)
*95-45 = 45+5=50% shares held by Biman Chand Prasad in Lotus (Fiji).
*One of his NFP MPs, SASHI KIRAN is running around Fiji as Chairperson of the proposed Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
*Truth and Reconciliation must begin with her own party leader.
The TRUTH is that his declarations do not RECONCILE with the documentary evidence that we have been revealing in the last few days.
*In the section on shares, he didn't disclose the identity of the company in which he held 50 per cent shares - i. e. in Lotus Construction (Fiji) Ltd.
CRY, OUR BELOVED COUNTRY, FIJI

On 2 November 2015, his business partner Sunil Chand transferred 45% shares from his 95% to make Prasad 50% business partner in Lotus (Fiji). On 19 January 2016 the couple sell their house for $550,000 to Lotus Construction (Fiji) Ltd in which Prasad has 50% shares since 2015:

*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.
*We call on FICAC to question NFP leader, for he lied in his declarations when he claimed that he was the sole owner of the 'CT 11907' house.
​*At the time of the sale to Lotus, Prasad had 5% shares in the company, and was one of the two directors with one SUNIL CHAND.
*By 2018, he had 50% shares with Sunil Chand in Lotus (Fiji), the owners of the 28 lots of villas in Nadi.

*BIMAN PRASAD and his co-director in Lotus Construction (Fiji) Ltd SUNIL CHAND (50/50 SHARES) held 30% shares each in Platinum Hotels & Resort Ltd that was established by the two and another colleague (held 40% shares) in November 2015 to provide hospitality services, with registered office of PHR at Nacovi, Nadi.
​*On 19 January 2016 Prasad and Chand suddenly quit as directors.
*The NFP leader Prasad should have declared his directorship in his 2015 and 2016 declarations as it fell within the statement period, being the 1 January to 31 December of each year.
*It is also pursuant to section 24 (1) (a) (b) (iv) of the Political Parties Act 2014. He didn't disclose his Platinum Hotels & Resort directorship.​

*One is lost for words that the NFP leader, Deputy Prime Minister, and Fiji's Finance Minister, was once a Professor of Economics, Accounting, and Statistics at USP.
*His declarations under the Political Parties Act relating to shares in companies, and directorship, are so vague and elusive that a faint hearted investigator would have given up after a few hours of inspecting the declarations.
*First, we thought the 'poor chap' was just hiding the true nature of his wealth, assets, land, shares and directorship from the megalomaniac Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum but now we suspect he had other compelling reasons, and he has to explain to FICAC.
*We were, however, determined from the moment we got hold of his declarations, from 2014 to 2024, to forensically go through and lay bare the irregularities in his declarations.
*In his declarations he has a notorious slap-dash streak of simply stating, 'Shares in Business, Value$ - 85,000', 'Shares in Business/Companies-85,000, estimated total value as 31/12/2015', 'Shares in Business/Companies, 2 companies. Value$: One third (33% share in company 1 (and 50% share in another). No where has Prasad specifically mentioned that he has 50% shares in Lotus Construction (Fiji) Ltd. He merely states, 'Lotus Construction Ltd'. As we know, Lotus Construction (Fiji) Ltd is the sister company of Lotus Construction (Australia) Ltd. Sunil Chand owns Lotus (Australia).

*The 33% share in 'Company 1' evaded us for days but in the past 24 hours, we finally made a major breakthrough and can reveal that he owns 33% shares with Sunil Chand and his nephew Krishil Kisan Kumar in Lotus Tours & Transfers Ltd. When the company was formed his nephew was still employed with the HFC Bank but was the principal contact for Lotus Tours & Transfers Limited.
​*The company was formed on 5 September 2015 by Lotus Construction (Fiji) Ltd, the owners of Westville Villas in Nadi. Biman Prasad and Sunil Chand have 50% shares each in Lotus (Fiji). It started operations in May 2016, to cater for tourists coming to Fiji.

*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.
*First registered mortgage over vacant land comprised in Certificate of Title 42203, being 2 on DP 9474, situated at Naidiri Bay Road, Malomalo, Nadi, with current market valuation of $65,000.
* First registered Bill of Sale over 17 second-hand motor vehicles with estimated current market value of $437,000 (Motor vehicle details to be provided in due course).
*Unlimited guarantee from Lotus Construction (Fiji) Ltd
*Unlimited Guarantee from Directors.

*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. 
*The Owner/Lessee are listed as DIP NARAYAN and RITA DEVI NARAYAN
*Date of Ownership: 14 March 1997
*In 2016, in consideration of the sum of $380,000 the Narayans, after being explained by the solicitors in Hindustani, transferred (sold) the property to Lotus Tours & Transfers Ltd.

HANGING BY THE FINGERNAILS BUT FOR HOW LONG, AS FIJI WAITS

From: Dilawar Grewal <*****>
December 1, 2015 at 4:17:21 PM GMT+13
To: Biman Prasad <******>
Subject: EOI for housing
Biman bhai, I know you are in NZ, however, I wanted to share this EOI for building apartments on Varani St. with you. Could you please share it with whomever and have them apply. Arvind Patel declared his conflict of interest and says he is applying. Hope you are enjoying your visit. Regards
Dilawar

*Prasad, who had been gifted 5 per cent shares in Lotus (Fiji) Ltd by Sunil Chand on 15 March 2014, suggested his nephew Krishil Kumar (HFC Bank), and who had witnessed the granting of shares, to contact USP for more details. But Biman Prasad warned Sunil Chand (1/12/2015): 'Please don't circulate the e-mail from Dilawar to anyone else...I will be bk in Fiji on Monday. I can ask Kishan to attend the pre-bid on Monday. He can get the documents' 
*On 9 December Krishil Kumar reported to Biman Prasad, Sunil Chand and one another associated with Lotus (Fiji):
Hello All,   Attached is details for tender.  
Pre-bid meeting held on Monday, following were discussed: -
*Accommodation for USP staff and other expertise visiting USP/Fiji. USP staff can be single/Married - 1 bedroom/ 2 or more bedroom apartments.
*No limit on number of stories [Levels], but as per approval from Suva city council. 
*Profit sharing will be discussed after tender has been awarded. - Rent will be based on current market rate. -
*At any time, USP wants to maintain occupancy rate of 80%. If USP staff does not intend to rent out, outsiders shall be considered.  *Only concept drawing is needed at this stage, plus investments amount.
*Refer to above attach, USP wants to amalgamate  Lot 46 & 42.

Fijileaks: We see a pattern in Biman Prasad's insider dealings. As we have revealed previously, he broke s24 of the Political Parties Act by not disclosing in his declarations (2014-2024) his wife Rajni Chand's truseeship of the Global Girmit Institute. We have called on FICAC to arrest and prosecute him for gross breaches of the PPAct.
*We have also called on FICAC to investigate whether Rajni Chand and her two other GGI trustees, Ganesh Chand and Hirdesh Sharma, broke the law when the trio accepted $200,000 of taxpayers money to host the international conference at USP on girmit in Fiji. Prasad had not called for any tender when he dished out the money to the GGI.
*It is absolutely shocking, and disgusting, that while Biman Prasad was in 'bed' with Dr Dilawar Grewal in 2016, the same year he was leaking documents to Fijileaks, to rubbish the former VC, late Rajesh Chandra. Now, when we are holding him to account, his blind supporters are foul-mouthing us.
​*The two-faced JANUS must be charged by FICAC as we continue to reveal a slew of evidence from his declarations - most are criminal in nature, and in violation of
s.24(1A) & s.24 (5) of Political Parties (Registration, Conduct, Funding, and Disclosures) Act 2013.

*BIMAN PRASAD failed to declare the 99 year sub-lease in declarations

2014: STRIDING into Parliament under the 2013 Constitution. The dHondt electoral system brought NFP out of the cold since its defeat in the 1999 election. The same Constitution (which NFP's Richard Naidu wants changed), saw NFP increase its number of MPs to FIVE.
*Under the 1997 Constitution (drafted by Sitiveni Rabuka and Jai Rai Ram Reddy to share power), the NFP had failed to win any seats in the 1999, 2001 and 2006 general elections (except one which they lost after a court challenge). But fortune smiled under the 2013 Constitutution.
*We fear the same 2013 Constitution which sent Prasad into Parliament, could end up sending him to Prison under its Political Parties Act.
*In 2014, Biman Prasad was mysteriously gifted 5 per cent shares in Lotus Construction (Fiji) Ltd. Four years later, he became a 50 per cent shareholder in the company, again on what financial basis?

*As Minister of Finance, Deputy Prime Minister and NFP leader, Biman Prasad suddenly mentions his shares in Lotus Construction (Note: He still doesn't identity if he is referring to Lotus Construction (Australia) or Lotus Construction (Fiji).
​*In the 23 January 2024 declaration of assets, liabilities, and income, Prasad notes as follows:
'One third [share] in Lotus Rental and 50% in Lotus Construction. No dividends have been paid or collected. Lotus Construction Property Lot 1, SO5571 TLTB 32593 (valued - $5,600,000), Loan ANZ $1,207,095.13 & $163,229.03.'
*The declaration was witnessed by legal practitioner RAVIKANT SINGH.
*In our search of I-Taukei Lease No 32593, we established that it was leased to Sunil Chand and Lotus Construction (Fiji) Ltd.
*The title shows that a sub-lease No.865503 in the name of Biman Prasad's wife, Rajni Kaushal Chand, was lodged for registration with the Titles Office on 13 August 2018 but for unknown reasons was not signed by the Registrar of Titles. We are trying to establish why it was not signed by the Registrar.
*However, what is clear, is that no where in his declarations Biman Prasad discloses that in 2018 the i-Taukei lease no 32593, assigned to Sunil Chand and Lotus (Fiji), was sub-leased to Rajni Chand.
*In his declarations from 2018-24, Biman Prasad is silent as a temple mouse regarding native lease 32593.
*We call on FICAC to question Prasad, Rajni Chand, and his business partner Sunil Chand. FICAC should also put a stop departure order against Sunil Chand, for we will be revealing more evidence that reeks of criminality in the whole Lotus (Fiji) rotten saga.
*Sunil Chand had bought the undeveloped land for $80,000 from the mataqali, Vunaivi and claimed to have spent $4million in the Westville villa projects in Nadi.
*Biman Prasad had 5% shares in Lotus (Fiji) in 2014, and in 2018, he was holding 50 per cent shares in the company.
*Where did Sunil Chand get $4million. More soon.

MARAMA PRASAD IS NOT NATIVE LEASE HOLDER FOR NO 33777?
*According to documents obtained from the Lands Registry Office, and confirmed by the i-Taukei Land Trust Board, Native Lease Number 33777
does not belong to Rajni Chand but it belongs to one Raneshwar Prasad.
*If so, Biman Prasad had been repeatedly lying in his declarations and breached s24 of the Political Parties Act 2014.
​*We just cannot fathom the reason for allegedly concealing the identity of one Raneshwar Prasad. FICAC must investigate the true ownership.

Native Land Lease (Togo, Rewa) changes hand to Rajni Chand from Mr and Mrs Laladidi, former civil servants

*In his 2022/23 declarations, Biman Prasad adds another land lease to his wife's name, native lease number 27697. He repeats that lease 33777 is held by Rajni Chand, and as previously, he claims the purchase price was valued at $30,000.
*Now, he combines the value of two native land leases (33777 and 27697) to the tune of $250,000, estimated value could be more, he declared.
*There is no record how much Rajni Chand paid to the Laladidis. If lease 33777 was $30,000, then native lease 27697 allegedly transferred to her on 9 November 2021 must be worth $220,000.
*Again, only a thorough FICAC probe will provide answers.

From Fijileaks Archive, August 2024:

*In his signed and certified Declaration of Assets, Liabilities and Income (31/12/20), Biman Prasad as NFP leader declared as follows:
*Native Lease 27569: Lease surrendered and 18 lots developed - currently at Ttiles Office for registrations.
*Estimated value for 18 lots:$2,020,425.
*The Statutory Declaration was witnessed in Suva on 6 April 2021 by
Ashneel Amit Nand, Barrister & Solicitor, JP.​

*Fijileaks: Yesterday, another two I-Taukei Leases (Nos 35576, 35578) were obtained by us. The leases were obtained by Biman Prasad on 15 December 2020.

*Biman Prasad should have declared these two leases in his 2020/21/22 Declarations. He waited until he joined the Coalition government as Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister. Prasad declared it in 2023. 
*In his 31 December 2020 declaration, signed off on 6 April 2021, Biman Prasad notes as follows:
'Native lease 27569. Lease surrendered and 18 lots developed - currently at Titles Office for registration. Estimated value for 18 lots $2,020,45.'
*By not declaring the two leases that he obtained on 15 December 2020, in 2020/21/22 declarations, he breached s24 of the Political Parties Act.