Fiji High Court refuses stay applications for two ex-deputy PMs

Two of Fiji's former deputy prime ministers face trial on separate corruption charges after their applications to permanently stay criminal proceedings against them were dismissed.

The High Court of Fiji has refused Biman Prasad and Manoa Kamikamica's applications to halt their prosecution by the country's anti-corruption agency, ruling that grounds raised lacked "merit".

The move comes as a general election looms in Fiji, with Fijians expected to go to the polls some time between 24 June this year and 6 February 2027.

Prasad and Kamikamica will appear in the Magistrates Court in Suva on Thursday, when a trial date is expected to be fixed. Both men have previously pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Prasad, who is the current National Federation Party (NFP) leader, resigned from cabinet last October after the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) charged him with corruption.

He was charged with allegedly failing to declare his directorship in hotel ventures as required under the Political Parties Act.

Kamikamica, the former trade minister, stepped down a week before Prasad after also facing corruption charges.

The former deputy prime minister is charged with perjury and giving false information to a public servant.

A High Court judgement reveals that between December 2024 and March 2025, Kamikamica allegedly made a false statement while he was a witness during a controversial Commission of Inquiry into the appointment of FICAC'S former head, Barbara Malimali.

The prosecution alleges he "wilfully made a material statement on oath, namely that he had nothing to do with her appointment, a statement he knew to be false".

Justice Siainiu Fa'alogo-Bull ruled in the High Court on Monday that Prasad, the former finance minister, had not met the legal grounds required to justify a permanent stay of proceedings.

She made a similar ruling regarding a bid by Kamikamica two weeks ago.

fijivillage.com reports that Prasad alleged that FICAC initiated the charge against him in bad faith because he was not interviewed under caution.

However, Justice Fa'alogo-Bull said the commission had previously explained in the Magistrates Court that Prasad had been overseas at the relevant time.

She ruled the absence of an interview, on its own, did not appear to compromise the fairness of a trial.