Fiji’s Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Christopher Pryde, has been suspended by President Ratu Wiliame Katonivere over allegations of misbehaviour, as stated in the country’s constitution. Pryde, who has held the position since November 2011, has been advised that a tribunal will be appointed to investigate the allegations. President Katonivere delivered a letter to Pryde, instructing him to take his overdue leave of 168 days, which expires in December 2023, and to hand over all official property. This suspension comes following advice from the Judicial Services Commission and is the latest in a series of high-profile suspensions and investigations by Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka’s three-party coalition government.
In the meantime, Senior Suva lawyer Ratu David George Toganivalu has been appointed to act as DPP. Pryde expressed confidence in the public prosecution office under Toganivalu’s leadership and has instructed his staff to provide their full support.
However, Attorney-General Siromi Turaga alleged that Pryde had met with Fiji’s former chief law officer, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, during a public event hosted by the Japanese Embassy in Suva, where they conversed alone for about 30 to 45 minutes. Turaga claimed that this meeting constitutes an alleged act of misconduct or misbehaviour, as files concerning high-profile individuals, including Rabuka, Bainimarama, and Sayed-Khaiyum, were with the DPP at that time.
Earlier on the same day of Pryde’s suspension, his office released an update on the progress of police complaints involving high-profile individuals. The ODPP (Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions) stated that files from the police, after investigation, are sent to the ODPP for further advice or decision on charges. The process involves legal officers providing formal advice and recommendations to the DPP, who makes the final decision based on the evidence and the law. The ODPP emphasized the importance of not making hasty decisions, but rather ensuring that the right decision is made based on evidence and in the public interest.
It should be noted that Turaga claimed that the decision to suspend Pryde was made prior to the release of the statement by the ODPP.