The suspended DPP, Christopher Pryde, has reacted furiously to being cast as a thief by the Acting Chief Justice, Salesi Temo, at the Tribunal hearing into the allegations of misbehaviour against him, releasing hard evidence that Temo tried to pay him off with $200,000 of taxpayer funds to prevent the Tribunal from going ahead.
In a sensational development, the DPP has produced correspondence of an offer from the Judicial Services Commission to settle the case if he agrees to resign on the basis of the JSC “having considered all material available at hand” in October. This suggests that the JSC had already formed the conclusion that its charges against Christopher Pryde would not stick were a Tribunal hearing to proceed.
Christopher Pryde reveals that he turned down the $200,000 because the JSC would not agree to provide him with a letter from the President exonerating him of wrongdoing. And he quite rightly says that if the Acting Chief Justice believed that he had stolen superannuation payments – the evidence Salesi Temo gave at the Tribunal on Wednesday – then he had a duty to call in the police or refer him to FICAC rather than offering him $200,000 of taxpayer’s money.
Pryde’s extraordinary statement threatens to turn these proceedings on their head – clear evidence that the JSC didn’t think it had a strong enough case against the DPP and wanted to pay him off to avoid a Tribunal hearing.
Why on earth it is going ahead is now the big question the Fijian people will be asking.
The above statement and the letter from the JSC were sent to the mainstream Fijian media on Thursday afternoon. Will they publish them?
Those outlets like the Fiji Times and Fiji Sun – which gave prominent coverage to Justice Temo’s claim that the DPP had stolen superannuation to which he was not entitled – are clearly duty bound to do so not only in the interests of fairness but to reduce the risk of defamation action against them.
But astonishingly, the great “Straight Talker”, Vijay Narayan, and his team at CFL-Fiji Village have boycotted covering the Pryde Tribunal altogether. And no media outlet has yet published the following letter from the Fiji Law Society telling the Tribunal that it cannot proceed with the hearing without violating Christopher’s Pryde’s constitutional right to fairness.
UPDATE: FRIDAY AM WITH NEWSPAPER COVERAGE OF THE ABOVE.
The two daily newspapers continue their outrageous bias against Christopher Pryde in their coverage of his statement revealing that the JSC tried to settle his case with a $200,000 payment.
The Fiji Sun ignores it altogether despite having prominently carried Salesi Temo’s portrayal of the DPP as a thief in yesterday’s edition. It is an astonishing breach of journalistic ethics as well as a betrayal of the public’s right to know.
As for the Fiji Times, this is how it reported Salesi Temo’s evidence on its front page yesterday.
What does the Fiji Times do today? There is the following front page story with a headline about the DPP “hitting back” but leading with the accusation against him, not his defence.
Go to page 7 and the disgraceful bias continues. No mention whatsoever of the $200,000 offer of settlement and any settlement offer described as a “claim” when the Fiji Times and every other media outlet received a copy of the JSC letter to the DPP with hard evidence of the $200,000 offer.
The principal Fijian media is as corrupt as the government and the criminal justice system. Enablers of an outrageous smear by the Acting CJ and but either unwilling to cover the DPP’s defence at all or doing so grudgingly and manipulating the facts.
And still no reporting whatsoever of the Fiji Law Society’s letter to the Tribunal telling it that it could not proceed with the Pryde hearing because it violated his constitutional right to fairness.
No-one can trust the two national dailies despite them crowing about a “new era of media freedom”. It is a new era of media suppression to side with the establishment and keep the Fijian people in ignorance of the facts.
POSTSCRIPT 1/
Finally on Day Five of the Tribunal hearing, the bent-talking Vijay Narayan’s team at CFL-Fiji Village finally begin reporting its proceedings – clearly stung by Grubsheet’s criticism of having ignored one of the biggest stories of the year.
But predictably, its story this morning is highly selective – reporting the evidence of former or low-level ODPP staff at yesterday’s hearing and ignoring altogether the main events of this trial on previous days.
1/ There has been NO mention of the sensational revelation that the JSC offered Christopher Pryde a $200,000 settlement after it had reviewed the evidence in October but the settlement fell through because the JSC refused to provide the DPP with a letter exonerating him from any wrongdoing.
2/ There has been NO mention of the astonishing allegation by the Acting Chief Justice, Salesi Temo, that Christopher Pryde stole superannuation payment to which he wasn’t entitled and Pryde’s furious response that if this was true, Temo should have called in the police or FICAC.
3/ There has been NO mention of the evidence of Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum supporting the DPP’s contention that there was no discussion about the police case against him in their clandestinely- photographed encounter at the Japanese Residence.
4/ And there has been NO mention of the Fiji Law Society letter saying that the Tribunal shouldn’t have gone ahead and violated Christopher Pryde’s constitutional right to fair treatment.
CFL Fiji Village has chosen to simply ignore seminal events in these proceedings. And far from being “straight-talking”, Vijay Narayan and his team are as bent as a Wainibuka Jaina (banana).
POSTSCRIPT 2/
In their frustration that the witch-hunt against the DPP has been exposed for what it is, certain Grubsheet correspondents have turned the blowtorch on Christopher Pryde and the “admin of this site” (me) for “getting the karma we deserve” for having worked for the previous “regime”, as if that was a crime for which we should burn in hell.
The record shows that I routinely publish opinions that are contrary to my own but I am under no obligation to publish comments that are irrelevant and/or abusive. My purpose in pointing this out is to save such people from wasting their time and save their fingers from exhaustion at the keyboard. Your karma is to vent your blind rage into a vacuum. Now bugger off.
UPDATE FRIDAY PM:
Only one media outlet – Fijilive – has covered this trial properly and from Day One on Monday. It isn’t even one of the principal players but its reporter, Ilaitia Ravuwai, has put the big names like Viavialevu Vijay to shame. A real journalist worthy of the name.
Salesi Temo pictured alongside the French Ambassador and some of the other ghouls of the criminal justice system at the annual AG’s Conference today.
Amid the smiles, the Acting CJ’s thunderous countenance suggests someone who knows he has made a major blunder accusing the DPP of stealing that reflects very poorly on him and the entire system.
Rumours are rife in legal circles today that Salesi Temo will soon be replaced, which won’t be making him any happier. He effectively committed hara kiri in the witness box on Wednesday.
Holy shit cakes. This revelation by CP is clear as day that he’s innocent and the charges are false. A blind man can see this.
Anyone can see this is a farce if that letter with the official letterhead is anything to go by. The government has admitted they have nothing on him through that letter and that 200k bribe they tried to get him to accept. And CP was correct in declining it because he has nothing to be ashamed about.
Good on you Christopher Pryde. Good to see you stick it to them.
Temo throwing taxpayers money at the problem like grog chaser lollies.
Stick it to them Chris and wait for the wash down. Hope Temo gets buried in the pile of shit he and Rabuka created.
Pass me the popcorn for the next twist in this saga.
1. The Acting Chief Santa Claus must resign immediately;
2. He should be referred to FICAC or the disciplinary section of the JSC;
3. He must be reported to the police for offering a bribe to the accused to make him go away;
4. If he does not voluntarily resign, the President must terminate him immediately (but do not hold your breath on that front);
5. After all this has happened he should be deported to Lappland where he belongs and this time of the year is the ideal time to send him packing.
This is the biggest embarrassment in Fiji’s legal history and this is what happens when you have monkeys running the joint.
Just wait a few more months for the monkeys in government to rear their heads.
I think you should write to the PM about his listing the very valid points 1-4 you make.
Otherwise, it will be swept under the carpet like the results of the Board of Inquiry into the grounding of the naval ship “Puamau” at Fulaga.
I am no lawyer but you would think a letter like the one Temo sent would come with a bit more self protection.
Something like, the case against you is strong, in the interest of not dragging the matter through courts we will consider settlement with your client etc etc.
But they have no such knowledge and the brainboxes send a letter that lands them straight in hot water.
Not chief justice material but definitely Ulukau !
I wonder whether the Judicial Services Commission has lawful powers under any statute to make such an offer?
If they don’t, then clearly this action may amount to gross misconduct.
The guy is clearly a first rate racist c**t with an agenda.
After this f**k up surely they will have to look at how Frank B was put inside on trumped up charges.
What irks me is that he is so openly proud to be a dickhead.
I believe commentators should seek an unbiased legal opinion before celebrating or reporting on this matter. It is important to research the principles governing “without prejudice” discussions, particularly their role in encouraging open and confidential settlement negotiations. Additionally, exploring alternative dispute resolution and case law related to lawyers’ duties to the court. Lawyers are obligated to ensure that proceedings are conducted in a manner that is just, speedy, and cost-effective for all parties.
CP had the opportunity to walk away legally unscathed but instead chose to breach confidentiality and other ethical obligations by disclosing a document that is inadmissible in court.
I am starting to see why he was stood down. Unwise decision in my view.
He has released this document only after being branded a thief by the Acting Chief Justice. Them’s the breaks. He is entitled to defend himself against an outrageous smear and presumably has legal advice to that effect.
The letter constitutes an acknowledgment that a settlement was offered after a review of the evidence. If Pryde had genuinely stolen the money, surely that review would have resulted in a reference to the police or FICAC, not an offer of $200,000. So who is “being unwise”?
Hello “Not a cause to celebrate says”, you have shown your own class as well. If you do not understand the meaning of “without prejudice” then you are well qualified to be an advisor to the acting CJ. You should join the team, but only in “acting” position.
Good on yer, Chris. That sounds very much like a ‘gotcha’ to me.
Well timed and held back until just the right moment to blow them wide open and nullify all of the last four days of lies and deceit.
I don’t think any of those that testified against Mr Pryde can actually come back from this blatant attempt to oust him from the job by any means that they thought they could get away with.
Should also lead to his reinstatement, full settlement of outstanding monies owed and the 200k, at least, for the discomfort and libellous statements made against him.
A slamdunk in my opinion!!
That $200K out of court settlement would be for the salary plus superannuation, leave, etc that has been witheld by Temo for the past six months.
Now, will the Pressy have any mettle to ask Temo to
resign let alone fire him?
..And how about that “grinning assassin”, christian preacher, Minister Turaga who prised out an apology letter from Pryde for his devious intentions? Nah, PM Rabuka has become so very impotent to do anything.
Unfortunately our PM does not take any action for any wrong doing until it is reported to him. It is not like FFP days, PM wants to do it the fijian style.
This is a vakavanua government and everything is done the vakavanua way.
Combine vakavanua with anything whether it’s politics, sports, church and it will all come to shit.
The Taukei live in vakavanua mode. That’s why we are behind everyone else.
I guess this is the reason they voted for change. They couldn’t get to sweep things under the rug and cut corners the vakavanua style.
Let the games begin! The media and the legal fraternity in Fiji bear a huge part of the blame for the unfolding drama. A bunch of spineless idiots. Well done CP, you go get them and show those idiots in government what a shameful and clueless regime they’re running. Anarchy on the way.
The Fiji media companies especially CFL has a mantra that says if it is going to affect our bottom line (meaning government sanction) then we might not as well report it. All journalism decisions are made purely on business grounds NOT journalistic standards. Sad but elfin true!
The offer to Pryde from JSC for out of court settlement points to the fact that JSC is recognizing that there is no case. Coming from Temo, it further exposes the character of the person that he is determined to get rid of Pryde at any cost.
Shame on the Fiji Media. There is so much to report, and this lot is silent and only highlights the government’s side. Where is media freedom. They are simply gutless and afraid of the government.
Effectively, there is no credible media in Fiji. The journalistic standards have gone so low that it’s not worth bothering. By now, people have realised that the Fiji Media is the influencer for the Coalition government or more crudely sold to speak for the government and suppress real happenings in a truthful way.
As GD and others have alluded, head of the cabal Temo and the lot at DPP, FICAC commissioner, Siromi, Graham, and Rabuka can no longer hide their sins. They are getting deeper into the mess they themselves have created.
Fiji is doomed to fail with current administration – that’s for certain. Hope our neighbors who always preach for high moral grounds are watching.
Just read Fiji Sun’s Friday take which broadcasts unbelieveable outrageous bias! Unbelievable except by readers of George Orwell’s warnings in “1984”.
Every mainstream media is in on Fiji’s kangaroo court slander of CP, a good man and esteemed lawyer with a spotless record.
The saddest part is the corruption includes Fiji’s top, so the outcome looks bleak.
Hope that expats wanting to make a move to work in Fiji are watching this debacle unravel. This is the last thing that Fiji needs in economic and workplace relations. They will not be guaranteed anything under this current cabal given their complete and utmost disregard for the laws of the country. Rabuka continues to display his lack of political courage to set things right with this rogue Temo. Sack him is at least one way of showing you have some nuts on you Rabuka!!! What a shameful act you guys are doing.
Fiji tax payers are really rich so obviously incompetent civil servants nominated by the coalition can waste our money.
No trouble at all as our schools have 100% pass rate and our hospitals full of medicines, doctors and nurses, our roads got no holes and our water supply is 24/7. We can definitely waste tax payers money.
The Fiji media are stupid. Journalists and editors alike are stupid. Forget about the CP case. Just pick up the newspaper or follow the broadcast news on any given day. The lack of standards is both shocking and appalling. Forget about analysis and investigative journalism. They can’t even string together a basic news story. The CP case is bringing out the worst in the Fiji media but they were pathetic to begin with. The biggest joke in Fiji is its news media.
So true, the standard of news media in Fiji is pathetic. They were crying about the media freedom. Now they got the freedom, they report selective news to please the Rabuka government.
What better can we expect from people Freddie and Vjay. What they don’t realise, the higher these monkeys climb, the more their arse is exposed.
What do you expect when Fijians have been subject to puerile drivel over the airwaves from CFL the last 1.5 generations Ehh!
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Bula Grubsheet. It might be time for a new platform for you to publish on. It’s called X (formerly Twitter). #free media
Thank you, Elon. Welcome to Grubsheet!
Also got a few people you could put into orbit on that groovy rocket of yours.
Do you do one way trips?