Fiji’s president has suspended the Pacific island nation’s public prosecutor and says a tribunal will probably be appointed to research him for alleged misconduct.
The transfer got here on the identical day that prosecutor Christopher Pryde’s workplace introduced that the police had requested it to contemplate suspected prices in opposition to the prime minister, former prime minister, former police chief and former attorney-general.
Reuters couldn’t attain Pryde, who has held the position of director of public prosecutions for 11 years, for remark, and his workplace didn’t reply to a request for touch upon Thursday night.
A authorities assertion mentioned Pryde was suspended on Thursday, with President Ratu Wiliame Katonivere writing to tell him “a tribunal will probably be appointed to research allegations of misconduct”.
The assertion didn’t give additional particulars of the allegations, however mentioned Pryde was required handy over his cell phone and laptop computer.
Former long-serving prime minister Frank Bainimarama pleaded not responsible in a Suva courtroom final month on prices of abuse of workplace.
Pryde authorized the fees in opposition to Bainimarama and the suspended police commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho, who will each face trial.
Bainimarama led the Pacific island nation for 16 years till narrowly dropping an election in December to a coalition of events led by present Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka.
A listing of police complaints being investigated in opposition to “excessive profile people” was revealed by the prosecutor’s workplace on Thursday.
The record confirmed the police had sought authorized recommendation on suspected prices in opposition to Rabuka, former lawyer common Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, in addition to further suspected prices in opposition to Bainimarama and Qiliho.
The assertion mentioned no choice had been made by the prosecutor’s workplace in these circumstances.
Fiji has a historical past of army coups, together with two staged by Rabuka and one by Bainimarama, and its army commander in January warned Rabuka’s new coalition authorities in opposition to making “sweeping adjustments”.
