And through the files of Lotus Construction (Fiji) Ltd
*Fijileaks: In the course of our investigation, we found that NFP leader and Fiji's Finance Minister in Prime Minister Rabuka's Coalition government Biman Prasad had lied in his statutory declarations regarding the true ownership of the couple's properties.
*He had not disclosed that he, with Sunil Chand and one another, had formed Platinum Hotels and Resorts Ltd but after three months had abruptly resigned as director. Under the Political Parties Act, no matter how short or long months or years he was director, he should have disclosed his directorship.
*Platinum Hotels & Resorts provided over $2m towards 'Westfield Villas'.
*He did not disclose his wife's links with the Global Girmit Centre but readily handed her and Ganesh Chand $200,000 of taxpayers money.
*We also found that he had not disclosed his wife owns two units worth $300,000 in Westfield Villas, Legalega, Nadi.
*His 'Panni-Wallah' Lawyer(s) were unaware of these breaches nor FICAC or the original complainant and the FEO, so Biman Prasad must be taken into custody, charged, and presented before the court. HE MUST RESIGN or SACKED.
*FICAC must also establish if his wife Rajni Chand was a party to his lies and falsifications for the last ten years, and also to establish if Rajni and two other GGI trustees, Ganesh Chand and Hirdesh Sharma obtained corrupt benefit.
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*In his 2014, 2015, and 2016 declarations, Biman Prasad claimed that he had an estimated share total of $85,000 in 'Business/Companies'. As we have revealed, he formed with his cousin Sunil Chand, Lotus Construction (Fiji) Ltd on 15 March 2014. He was gifted a 5% share in Lotus. A year later, Sunil Chand transferred 45% out of his 95% shares to Biman Prasad, making him an equal 50% shareholder in Lotus (Fiji).
*A year before Biman Prasad and his wife Rajni Kaushal Chand sold their Burerua St house for $550,000 to Lotus (Fiji), they commissioned a valuation report with the intention of demolishing the Burerua house and building 14 Flats on the site. The flats were valued at over $2.8million.
*The couple sold Burerua property to Lotus (Fiji) in 2016 for $550,000, the company in which Biman Prasad holds 50% shares.
*It is mind-boggling how Lotus (Fiji) forked out $95,239.89 in July 2015 to meet the entire costs of the 'Market Valuation of CT 11907'- Burerua St- jointly owned by Biman Prasad and his wife, when the former Professor of Economics at USP claimed his total share in Lotus (Fiji) was $85,000.
In his 2017 statutory declarations, he claimed he was company director of 'two companies' but did not receive dividends and directors fees.
Again, what the former USP Professor of Economics did not disclose was despite holding only $85,000 worth of shares in Lotus (Fiji), his co-company cleared his and his wife's ANZ bank loan, paid only his Capital Gains Tax (what about his wife), and transferred two units worth $300,000 in 'Westfield Villas'. Prasad did not disclose his wife's two villas so he MUST be charged for failing to disclose to the FEO his wife's villas.
WE CHALLENGE FICAC TO TAKE THIS MAN INTO CUSTODY
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Professor Biman Prasad has called on Fiji Labour Party leader Mahendra Chaudhry to tell the truth and provide all the evidence that he was charged by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) for filing false statutory declarations with the Registrar of Political Parties.
“You go and find out from him what is the truth,” Prof Prasad said when this newspaper asked him for his comments on Mr Chaudhry’s claims.
“Find out if he is telling the truth.
“That’s my comment, and where are his sources of information.”
Mr Chaudhry said a Board of Inquiry would reveal all.
Prof Prasad earlier told The Fiji Times that his lawyers had already communicated with FICAC and rejected any basis of charges.
Attempts to get comments from FICAC Commissioner Barbara Malimali proved futile.
“You go and find out from him what is the truth,” Prof Prasad said when this newspaper asked him for his comments on Mr Chaudhry’s claims.
“Find out if he is telling the truth.
“That’s my comment, and where are his sources of information.”
Mr Chaudhry said a Board of Inquiry would reveal all.
Prof Prasad earlier told The Fiji Times that his lawyers had already communicated with FICAC and rejected any basis of charges.
Attempts to get comments from FICAC Commissioner Barbara Malimali proved futile.
Here is the evidence, Biman!
Finance Minister Biman Prasad has challenged Labour Leader Mahendra Chaudhry to show proof of his claim that FICAC was on the point of laying charges against him when Malimali was appointed to avert this.
Prasad’s challenge on Page 3 of Fiji Times today followed Labour’s call that Biman be demoted to the backbench since FICAC was about to lay charges against him.
It is worrying that although Fiji Times gave such prominence to Prasad’s challenge, it had not bothered to run Labour’s original statement calling for him to be moved to the backbench. (FLP’s Facebook post 20/9/24).
The following is Mr Chaudhry’s response to Biman Prasad and the Fiji Times as a Letter to the Editor:
“I refer to your article on P3 of today’s Fiji Times with the headline “Biman challenges Chaudhry’s claim”.
I am surprised that you should run Biman Prasad’s comment without reporting the statement that I had made. In my statement I had said the Finance Minister should be relegated to the backbench considering that he was to have been charged by FICAC on 5 September 2024.
This was only averted when Barbara Malimali was suddenly appointed Commissioner FICAC that very day, putting a stop to the move by FICAC to charge him.
Of late I have noticed that although Fiji Times chooses not to run media statements issued by the Fiji Labour Party on matters relating to Biman Prasad, they are quick to run replies issued by Minister Prasad several days later with just a passing reference to Labour’s statement, if even that.
It shows unfair journalistic standards with a decided bias in favour of Mr Prasad, and a violation of the media code of ethics regarding independent and balanced coverage of news.
Biman Prasad challenges me to furnish evidence for my claim that FICAC was on the point of charging him when Malimali was appointed Commissioner. Her appointment stopped the charges being laid.
The controversy stirred by her appointment has prompted the Prime Minister to announce that he will soon appoint a board of inquiry “to put to rest the air of distrust surrounding her appointment”.
I hereby submit copy of a letter dated 5 September from then acting Deputy FICAC Commissioner Francis Puleiwai to the Minister for Justice Siromi Turaqa, informing him, as a matter of courtesy, that FICAC was going to charge Prasad that day (5 September) for filing false documents with the Registrar of Political Parties.
I quote: “The investigations … have been completed and based [on that] we will be laying charges against the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance the Honourable Biman Prasad today for multiple counts of declaration of assets, income and liabilities contrary to Section 24 (1)(b)(iv) of the Political Parties (Registration, Conduct, Funding and Disclosures) Act 2013.”
The letter is widely circulating in the social media.
Biman’s claim that his lawyers reject the charges, is neither here nor there. It is for the courts, not his lawyers, to decide on the merit of the charges.”
Below: The FICAC letter to Justice Minister
Finance Minister Biman Prasad has challenged Labour Leader Mahendra Chaudhry to show proof of his claim that FICAC was on the point of laying charges against him when Malimali was appointed to avert this.
Prasad’s challenge on Page 3 of Fiji Times today followed Labour’s call that Biman be demoted to the backbench since FICAC was about to lay charges against him.
It is worrying that although Fiji Times gave such prominence to Prasad’s challenge, it had not bothered to run Labour’s original statement calling for him to be moved to the backbench. (FLP’s Facebook post 20/9/24).
The following is Mr Chaudhry’s response to Biman Prasad and the Fiji Times as a Letter to the Editor:
“I refer to your article on P3 of today’s Fiji Times with the headline “Biman challenges Chaudhry’s claim”.
I am surprised that you should run Biman Prasad’s comment without reporting the statement that I had made. In my statement I had said the Finance Minister should be relegated to the backbench considering that he was to have been charged by FICAC on 5 September 2024.
This was only averted when Barbara Malimali was suddenly appointed Commissioner FICAC that very day, putting a stop to the move by FICAC to charge him.
Of late I have noticed that although Fiji Times chooses not to run media statements issued by the Fiji Labour Party on matters relating to Biman Prasad, they are quick to run replies issued by Minister Prasad several days later with just a passing reference to Labour’s statement, if even that.
It shows unfair journalistic standards with a decided bias in favour of Mr Prasad, and a violation of the media code of ethics regarding independent and balanced coverage of news.
Biman Prasad challenges me to furnish evidence for my claim that FICAC was on the point of charging him when Malimali was appointed Commissioner. Her appointment stopped the charges being laid.
The controversy stirred by her appointment has prompted the Prime Minister to announce that he will soon appoint a board of inquiry “to put to rest the air of distrust surrounding her appointment”.
I hereby submit copy of a letter dated 5 September from then acting Deputy FICAC Commissioner Francis Puleiwai to the Minister for Justice Siromi Turaqa, informing him, as a matter of courtesy, that FICAC was going to charge Prasad that day (5 September) for filing false documents with the Registrar of Political Parties.
I quote: “The investigations … have been completed and based [on that] we will be laying charges against the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance the Honourable Biman Prasad today for multiple counts of declaration of assets, income and liabilities contrary to Section 24 (1)(b)(iv) of the Political Parties (Registration, Conduct, Funding and Disclosures) Act 2013.”
The letter is widely circulating in the social media.
Biman’s claim that his lawyers reject the charges, is neither here nor there. It is for the courts, not his lawyers, to decide on the merit of the charges.”
Below: The FICAC letter to Justice Minister
