A new trial date has been set from September 1st to 4th in the case against former Deputy Prime Minister and National Federation Party Leader Professor Biman Prasad.

Professor Prasad pleaded not guilty to the amended charge filed by FICAC against him this afternoon.

The Suva Magistrate has allowed FICAC to amend the charge after prosecution applied under Section 182 of the Criminal Procedure Act 2009.

Magistrate Yogesh Prasad ruled Professor Prasad should be given sufficient time to prepare his case.

He ruled the amended charge introduced a new provision and was not a minor change.

Professor Prasad’s lawyer, Richard Naidu says under Section 18A of the Electoral Act, the case must be given priority.

He told the court that his client’s political career is on the line.

The magistrate also considered Professor Prasad’s constitutional rights, including the right to be informed of the nature of the charge and the right to a fair trial within a reasonable time.

FICAC has made changes to the date of the alleged offence and the section of the law under which the charge was initially filed.

Professor Prasad faces one count of failure to comply with statutory disclosure requirements.
He is also charged with providing false information in a statutory declaration Contrary to section 27(1) (c) of the Political Parties (Registration, Conduct, Funding and Disclosures) Act 2013.

It is alleged that between December 30, 2015 to January ,31 2016 at Suva being an officeholder of the National Federation Party, registered under the Political Parties (Registration, Conduct, Funding and Disclosures) Act 2013, failed to comply with Section 24(1B)(d), by providing to the office of the registrar his declaration of assets liabilities and income as at 31 December 2015 without disclosing his directorship in Platinum Hotels & Resorts PTE Limited thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 24(5) of the said act.

It is also alleged that on January 28, 2016 at Suva being an office holder of a registered political party, namely the National Federation Party, recklessly provided false information in a statutory declaration submitted to the Registrar of Political Parties under Section 24(1B) (d) of the Political Parties (Registration, Conduct, Funding and Disclosures) Act 2013, by solemnly declaring that the particular contained in his declaration of assets liabilites and income as at 31 December 2015 were true and complete when the declaration omitted his directorship in Platinum Hotels & Resorts PTE Limited, which omission rendered the declaration in material particular thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 27(1)( c) of the said act.