FICAC Spent Over $19,000 Investigating Former DPP Christopher Pryde

SUVA, Fiji — The Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) utilized approximately $19,022 in public funds to facilitate the investigation and subsequent prosecution of former Director of Public Prosecutions, Christopher Pryde.

Minister for Justice Siromi Turaga disclosed these figures in Parliament this week while responding to a written query posed by Leader of the Opposition, Inia Seruiratu.

According to the breakdown provided by the Minister, the expenditure was divided between domestic and international operations. Approximately $11,000 of the total was attributed to FICAC’s internal investigative procedures and legal costs, a figure that accounts for staff time dedicated to the case. The remaining $8,022 was spent in New Zealand, covering the formal service of court documents and essential legal processes conducted abroad.

Minister Turaga detailed that the FICAC proceedings centered on allegations involving a total sum of $193,326.64. The charges against the former DPP included alleged gratuity payments, the improper receipt of reimbursement monies contrary to established procurement requirements, and disputes surrounding airline reimbursement claims.

In his address to the House, Turaga defended the expenditure, suggesting that the cost must be evaluated in proportion to the severity and financial scale of the allegations under investigation.

"The estimated $19,022 expenditure should be understood in the context of the nature and financial value of the matters that were the subject of the proceedings," Turaga stated.

The Minister emphasized that the funds were necessary to ensure a comprehensive prosecution, covering the full scope of legal requirements both within Fiji and across international jurisdictions in New Zealand. The disclosure highlights the logistical and financial complexities involved when corruption allegations against high-ranking officials require cross-border legal cooperation.