STING OPERATION: GRAHAM DAVIS, 'Tikoduadua is just plain wrong. The AG engaged in campaign to undermine DPP Pryde, including hand-picking his successor in advance, finding a pretext to dispense with him'

"Grubsheet learnt in mid February from one of our readers that David Toganivalu had been approached to replace Christopher Pryde as DPP. It prompted me to write to the Deputy Prime Minister, Biman Prasad on February 21 asking if these reports were true. Prasad came back telling me that he had asked the Attorney General, Siromi Turaga, about the reports and the AG had responded that it was "bullshit". That was a LIE." - DAVIS

Minister for Home Affairs, Pio Tikoduadua says there is no cause for concern after the suspension of the Director of Public Prosecutions Christopher Pryde.

​By GRAHAM DAVIS

Pio Tikoduadua is just plain wrong. There is a great deal for the Fijian people to be worried about over the suspension of the DPP, Christopher Pryde, four years into a seven year contract.
*Ever since the new government took office in December, attempts were made to destabilise the DPP. This included a prominent iTaukei magistrate approaching someone in his office to spy on him - an act that prompted Christopher Pryde to write to his staff exposing the person in question and instructing them not to have anything to do with her.
*He also reportedly lodged a formal complaint with the Judicial Services Commission about this attempt to subvert him but nothing was done.
*Grubsheet learnt in mid February from one of our readers that David Toganivalu had been approached to replace Christopher Pryde as DPP.
*It prompted me to write to the Deputy Prime Minister, Biman Prasad on February 21 asking if these reports were true. Prasad came back telling me that he had asked the Attorney General, Siromi Turaga, about the reports and the AG had responded that it was "bullshit". That was a LIE.
*On February 28 - seven days later - Christopher Pryde attended a Japanese national day reception at the Japanese [ambassador's] residence in Suva. At some point in the evening, he was approached by Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum and in full view of the room, the two had a conversation. At this point, the DPP says he was NOT AWARE that a police file on Khaiyum had been received by his office.
*So he saw nothing wrong with engaging him in an informal chat so long as there was no discussion about any police investigation into Khaiyum.
*Aiyaz Sayed- Khaiyum himself would also have known that it would have been a serious violation of the law to engage in such a conversation. So Grubsheet understands that the content of the discussion was confined to family matters, including the recent arrival back in Fiji from Australia of Khaiyum's wife, Ella, and their three children and the challenge of finding a school for them in Nadi and setting up house there.
*In other words, a typical conversation at any social function in Fiji. The two men were in full view of the room and there was nothing clandestine about the encounter.
*Some time later, Siromi Turaga summoned Christopher Pryde to his office and showed him a series of photographs that had been taken of the two men in conversation. The AG told the DPP that he considered it inappropriate and while the DPP explained that it was confined to family matters, Siromi Turaga asked Christopher Pryde to submit a formal apology to him in writing for having had any contact with his ousted predecessor.
*The AG assured the DPP that once the apology was submitted, that would be in the end of the matter. It was another LIE.
*The AG used what had happened to approach the Acting Chief Justice, Salesi Temo, asking him to formally demand Christopher Pryde's resignation or refer him to the Judicial Services Commission for misbehaviour.
*When he received this demand from the Acting CJ, the DPP wrote to Justice Temo explaining the circumstances and protesting that Siromi Turaga had told him that beyond the formal apology he had made, there would be no further action taken against him. He also complained for a second time about the campaign of destabilisation that had been launched against him, including the magistrate who had tried to recruit one of his staff to spy on him.
*It was to no avail. The record shows that Christopher Pryde was suspended for alleged misbehaviour and the charge against him will eventually be heard by a tribunal of three judges, who under the Constitution, are required to submit their findings to H.E the President and those findings will be made public.
*It is also on the public record that Pryde has refused to resign as DPP, maintains that his suspension is unjust and that he will fight it.
*On any evaluation of the facts, this was a set-up. David Toganivalu was recruited BEFORE the Japanese function at which the DPP and Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum were photographed. *Siromi Turaga LIED to Biman Prasad - his coalition partner - that this was the case.
*The AG LIED to Christopher Pryde when he said a formal apology would be in the end of the matter and no further action would be taken. And while it might have been an error of judgment for the DPP not to have turned his back on Khaiyum at a diplomatic reception, Grubsheet understands that he had NO KNOWLEDGE that any police file on the ousted AG had been received by his office and there was no legal reason to shun him.
*Pio Tikoduadua as Minister for Home Affairs assures the public that "there is no cause for concern". Wrong. There is every cause for grave concern. The DPP is an independent officer of state appointed by H.E the President. Under the separation of powers that underpins our system of government, he does NOT report to the Attorney General or take instructions from him. Yet in this instance, there is clear evidence that the AG has engaged in a campaign to undermine the DPP, including hand-picking his successor in advance of finding a pretext to dispense with him.
*In terms of a breach of contract alone, this could eventually cost the Fijian taxpayer dearly. But in terms of public confidence in our institutions and the ability of independent officers of state to do their jobs free from political interference, it is a disaster. Pio Tikoduadua knows it. And if he doesn't, he should. Because for a start, we already know that Siromi Turaga and the Acting Chief Justice are putting pressure on Christopher Pryde's successor, David Toganivalu, to fast-track the prosecutions of Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum and others associated with FijiFirst.
*And that is extremely dangerous for the proper administration of justice and the rule of law in Fiji.