The Suva Magistrate Court is set to hear another application by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption to include former Supervisor of Elections Mohammed Saneem as a witness against former Deputy Prime Minister Professor Biman Prasad.

Professor Prasad is currently on trial over allegations that he failed to comply with statutory disclosure requirements and, alternatively, provided false information in a statutory declaration.

Magistrate Yogesh Prasad expressed concern after FICAC Manager Legal Joseph Work told the court that the prosecution had served the Defence with two additional documents and a new witness.

Work argued there was no new material in the documents and that the new witness would testify to evidence that had already been served.

He adds that although the trial was already underway, the prosecution had a continuing duty to ensure its case was properly presented and proved.

Magistrate Prasad told Work that he could not allow new material to be served on the Defence without the court’s leave.

Professor Prasad’s lawyer, Richard Naidu, told the court the Defence had not had sufficient time to consider the new material, as the documents were emailed to him on Friday night.

Naidu adds FICAC had confirmed in May that it was ready for trial, questioning what Saneem could add to the evidence that witnesses from the Elections Office would not be able to provide.

He also argued that Saneem was not a difficult witness to secure and questioned why the prosecution was seeking to call him only now.

The court will hear submissions from both sides this afternoon before delivering its ruling tomorrow.