Fiji's FICAC drops case against ex-DPP but says former deputy PM's trial will move ahead

Two of Fiji's highest-profile corruption cases have taken sharply different paths.

The Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) has dropped its prosecution of former Director of Public Prosecutions Christopher Pryde while continuing its case against former deputy prime minister Manoa Kamikamica.

FICAC has discontinued all criminal proceedings against Pryde after telling the Suva Magistrates Court it had been unable to serve him with court documents.

Senior Prosecutor Lani More filed a nolle prosequi, which was accepted by Magistrate Yogesh Prasad, bringing the case to an end.

More told the court the prosecution was discontinued because Pryde had "successfully managed to evade service" and was beyond FICAC's control. The court was also told the file has now been closed.

Pryde had faced three sets of allegations linked to his time as Director of Public Prosecutions.

The Suva Magistrates Court where FICAC discontinued criminal proceedings against Christopher Pryde and where former deputy prime minister Manoa Kamikamica's trial is continuing. Photo/Supplied

He was accused of approving and receiving four gratuity payments worth F$138,445.05 (NZ$106,384.60) without the required approvals from the Office of the President and the Judicial Services Commission.

In alternative charges, FICAC alleged he caused a financial loss by accepting the payments.

He also faced allegations that he improperly claimed F$47,053.03 (NZ$36,156.71) in airfare reimbursements for his wife and child, despite them not living with him in Fiji, and was accused of receiving a financial advantage to which he was not entitled.

The Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) headquarters in Suva. The agency has discontinued its prosecution of Director of Public Prosecutions Christopher Pryde while continuing criminal proceedings against former deputy prime minister Manoa Kamikamica. Photo/FICAC

A third charge alleged Pryde failed to repay F$7828.56 (NZ$6015.66) after an airline refunded him directly for unused tickets that had already been reimbursed by his office.

While the Pryde case has ended, FICAC's prosecution of former deputy prime minister and MP Manoa Kamikamica is continuing before the Suva Magistrates Court.

Kamikamica has pleaded not guilty to one count of perjury and an alternative charge of giving false information to a public servant.

The charges relate to evidence he gave under oath during the Commission of Inquiry into the appointment of former FICAC commissioner Barbara Malimali.

Prosecutors allege Kamikamica falsely stated he had no prior knowledge of Malimali's appointment before it was announced in September 2024.

The court has allowed FICAC to proceed with amended charges despite objections from the defence.

Watch Manoa Kamikamica leave the court in Suva below.

The prosecution is expected to call four witnesses while the defence has indicated it will call one witness if the court finds there is a case to answer.

Before the trial began, Kamikamica sought to permanently halt the prosecution through the High Court. His lawyers argued the case was an abuse of process and lacked evidence.

Justice Siainiu Fa'alogo Bull dismissed the application, ruling the legal threshold for a permanent stay had not been met and allowing the criminal proceedings to continue.

With one of Fiji's most closely watched prosecutions now discontinued and another moving into the trial stage, both cases remain under close public scrutiny as FICAC continues its anti-corruption work.