The lawyer, Richard Naidu, has enjoyed decades of being lionised as a conscience of the nation ever since indigenous supremacists dug a lovo pit for him outside the parliament in 1987 when he was press secretary to the ousted prime minister, Timoci Bavadra .
He has been a “go to” for anyone concerned about good governance and human rights, including foreign governments. He is the Honorary Consul for Belgium in Fiji. And the law firm he owns, Munro Leys, has been the “go to” place for top-level legal advice and representation for a string of prominent local and international companies, most notably the Fiji Times in its repeated face-offs with the FijiFirst government.
Richard Naidu has been both legal advisor to the Fiji Times and one of its Saturday columnists, though he hasn’t appeared in the paper for seven weeks since he opined that the debate about changing the 2013 Constitution was a good thing. His absence has triggered speculation that he can no longer publicly defend some of the Coalition’s conduct. But he is nonetheless still a prominent political player behind the scenes.
Naidu remains a stalwart of the NFP and both legal and political advisor to the Deputy Prime Minister and NFP leader, Biman Prasad. He has even been in cabinet meetings by Biman Prasad’s side. And he reportedly played a prominent role in the recent events that almost, but not quite, saw the NFP leader arrested and charged with abuse of office.
As with many other things with his fingerprints on them, Richard Naidu’s role in “Barbara-gate” is decidedly opaque. Yet as time goes on, it has been one of several issues that have raised questions about Naidu’s conduct and cast a shadow over his carefully cultivated image as a “good guy” and fierce upholder and defender of good governance and the rule of law.
The most glaring of these hitherto has been his continuing failure to explain his apparent conflict of interest when as Chair of the government’s Fiscal Review Committee, he recommended a seven-year tax holiday for Fiji Water, one of his clients at Munro Leys. And he has simultaneously had a worrying few months as the CID investigates allegations that he played a role in the bombing campaign of the Indo-Fijian resistance movement in 1987.
So the halo that has hovered around Richard Naidu’s head for the best part of four decades is now slipping down around his neck. And he has just been the subject of a pungent cartoon by the talented “Truth for Fiji” in which he is cast, unfairly or otherwise, as using his influence with the Coalition for commercial and personal gain.
Grubsheet readers will recall that when I raised the issues of Fiji Water and the CID investigation on Facebook last year, Richard Naidu sent me a letter threatening to sue me unless I retracted and apologised. This I refused to do. Naidu is a public figure by virtue of his role on the Fiscal Review Committee and therefore the legitimate subject of greater media scrutiny than ordinary citizens. Eleven months after that threat was issued, proceedings are yet to be launched.
Yet it is now my duty as a journalist to send the following open letter to Richard Naidu raising a number of questions that are clearly in the public interest arising out of his conduct as a public figure.
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Dear Richard,
Would you please provide responses to the following questions regarding your alleged conduct in a number of matters – some of which are already on the public record and some of which are new.
1/ What has been your precise role in representing or advising Biman Prasad in the proceedings brought against him by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) ?
2/ What representations, if any, have you or anyone from Munro Leys made on Biman Prasad’s behalf to the Attorney General, the Acting Chief Justice, the Minister for Justice, the new Commissioner of FICAC, the former deputy commissioner of FICAC or the Prime Minister? Please explain the nature of those representations.
3/ What role, if any, did you play in preventing Biman Prasad from being charged by FICAC and the subsequent sidelining and departure of the deputy commissioner, Francis Puleiwai?
4/ Please explain what, if any, benefit you or Munro Leys have received from your client, Fiji Water, for securing a tax holiday for the company while you have been Chair of the government’s Fiscal Review Committee?
5/ Why have you chosen not to explain your apparent conflict of interest in representing Fiji Water at the same time as you delivered a benefit to the company while holding a public position of trust?
6/ Precisely what instructions, if any, have you provided to your client, the Fiji Times, in relation to the paper’s coverage of the two issues referenced above? (Biman Prasad and Fiji Water)
7/ Precisely what advice, if any, have you provided to the Chairman Emeritus of the Fiji Times, Mahendra “Mac” Patel, in his successful attempt to obtain a pardon from the Mercy Commission?
8/ Did you make representations to the Mercy Commission or anyone else in government on Mahendra Patel’s behalf?
9/ Why has it been more than seven (7) weeks since you last wrote a column for the Fiji Times?
10/ Were you consulted when the Fiji Times used Mahendra Patel as a columnist in the lead-up to him being granted a pardon by the Mercy Commission?
11/ What, from your knowledge, is the progress of the CID investigation into your alleged role, and that of others, in the Indo-Fijian resistance movement of 1987.
12/ Is it true that this investigation has included an allegation that you attempted to blow up a bridge?
13/ What is the precise nature of your personal and/or professional relationship with a lawyer by the name of Rhea Chand, who used to work for Munro Leys and has been, up until recently, employed as a lawyer at Fiji Airways?
14/ Is it true that you and Ms Chand have been conducting an affair?
15/ Did she, during her employment at Fiji Airways, show you any internal documents that were confidential to the airline?
16/ What role, if any, did you play in events leading up to her departure from Fiji Airways in August?
17/ Did you recommend that Rhea Chand be appointed to the Board of Energy Fiji Limited and to whom did you make that recommendation?
18/ What is the precise nature of your consultations, if any, with the editorial team at the Fiji Times – including Editor Fred Wesley – on any of the aforementioned issues?
19/ When do you intend to return to the public debate in Fiji as a Fiji Times columnist?
I note that you have already threatened to sue me but give notice that I will vigorously defend any attempt by you to intimidate me into silence or commence proceedings against me for defamation, which you have already signalled in your email to me dated 2 November 2023.
Yours faithfully, etc.
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So Richard Naidu has some pointed questions to answer. And we look forward to a full explanation either by return correspondence to Grubsheet or in his next column in the Fiji Times. Or not, as the case may be.
We know that Francis Puleiwai was about to charge Biman Prasad when the process was blocked. Precisely what was Richard Naidu’s role in that intervention?
According to Biman Prasad, his legal team “formally informed FICAC that the allegations against him were baseless”. But as the FICAC case against the Deputy Prime Minister had been finalised and he was about to be charged, whether or not the allegations were baseless clearly should have been decided by a court of law.
What role did Richard Naidu play in enabling Biman Prasad to escape Francis Pulewai’s clutches? And what role did he play in her demise?
Will there be a repeat of the following? Let’s hope not. Because as a former Fiji Times reporter himself, Richard “I have the means” Naidu knows where the duty of journalists lies – to raise questions and disclose matters of public interest and especially on the conduct of those holding public positions. And to report without fear or favour.
It has long been a convention that journalists do not sue other journalists, and especially for raising issues of legitimate public interest. Though it appears that, regrettably, this is not a convention with which our sometime star columnist is familiar.
It appears to me that to qualify to be a “prominent” and “celebrated” lawyer or judge in Fiji you need to have the following essential characteristics:
1. Be an openly dodgy person
2. Be self-serving
3. Be able to twist and flaunt the law to suit the purpose
4. Be a racist
5. Be able to fiddle your trust account and be convicted
6. Lack integrity and professional conduct
7. Turn a blind eye when necessary
8. Apply the law to friends who butter your bread differently to others
9. Do not declare conflicts of interest
10. Have no financial acumen
11. Have little or no knowledge about how the economy works
12. Be a complete f*ckwit and an ars*hole
13. Be prejudiced and a megalomaniac
14. Write columns and social media postings which promote an agenda
Essential qualities and characteristics to become a prominent and celebrated lawyer, judge, and be appointed officers and members of the judiciary, and the judicial system in Fiji.
I am allowing this as a general comment. There is no suggestion that Richard Naidu is dodgy ie dishonest or unreliable.
Psychopath v Sociopath
There was potential conflict of interest in Richard being the advisor to the government and having Fiji Water as his client. It is about time FICAC investigates this.
There is also a worrying trend that as an advisor to the government he has continued to write as a columnist on issues that could influence decision makers. These are usually seen as a worrying behavior generally and will not be entertained in many civilised and better educated country.
Chand. Very interesting and some things finally makes sense now.
Very demure but not cutesy.
But hey, as someone mentioned above, Fiji has an elite qualifier list to be a somebody when you are nobody!
I look forward to reading the next column and him answering the questions you have raised GD. I would like to know how much Munro Leys is paid in total last and this financial year for all work by the government of Fiji and it should be itemised.
About time we have some fair transparency and scrutiny of public funds in Fiji.
Sounds like this lawyer is popping pills too, like some of his friends in cabinet!
These men will sell their souls for anything.
That’s all I can say.
A bunch of self serving idiots who know how to milk the system.
I remember the comments on ASK and Frank that he used to make.
He can now use that same energy and smartness to answer your questions Graham as those questions are of public interest.
Go on and answer them Naidu. Not on your usual X platform. Don’t even know why Fijians exist on X. Especially those who claim to be leaders and feminists anyway but will use the platform that Musk owns shows how much they care about social justice. But hey! That’s where their brains and social status sells for a self gratification for less than a minute so they bleat there non stop.
Respect
Integrity
Ethics
Honesty
That’s all we want to see in our leaders.
I hope we have this as the Coalition was made to sound like the champions of the above.
I for one cannot see these values anywhere.
Biman should know that allegations are not baseless until decided so in the court of law. Not in the court of Dreketi soccer fields.
He doesn’t get to decide that nor his lawyers in media. Do what every other Fijian does. Go to court and fight for your justice there.
A well educated and reputable man who honours the office will quietly stand down while there is an investigation of such nature in place. Not in Fiji though. They are the too smart lot.
Already Richard Naidu is being referred to as the ‘Nur Bano Ali’ of the Coalition.
Frankly some us have known for quite some time that Richard has been a fake. As you rightly pointed out he used the lovo incident to his advantage.
He essentially has fleeced the system. He and Munro Leys made stacks of money during the Qarase days and even prior to that. But lots during the Qarase days. They were given exclusive work from then Air Pacific (Air Pathetic), FSC, FEA to name a few. They charged like a wounded bull.
In fact the story is when ASK became AG he took away Government work from Munro Leys because he said that lawyers from SG’s office could do it because it was not difficult work and that the SG’s office had the skills to do it. It was drafting the environmental regulations.
Richard was pissed off about this. In the same way Graham Leung was pissed off about all the TLTB work that was given exclusively to Howards where Leung was a partner.
These people are all about money and status.
This whole thing has a very awful stench to it. Great work there GD in nailing R Naidu to specific questions. Not holding my breath but again, in hope, he may choose to answer and at least throw some light on what is really happening. Fiji is indeed becoming the butt of jokes on the international scene.
1. Sitting PM wants a game of golf with convicted treasonous criminal.
2. AG puts on straight face as he outlines process for setting up board of enquiry to enquire how Mali2 was appointed FICAC commissioner whilst under investigation by the same.
Isa our beloved nation, gone to the dogs and led by a cabal of greedy self serving pigs.
He will shoot or try to scare the messenger and circumvent answering the real issues raised.
Anyway the questions Grubsheet has raised are probably more illuminating than any (selective) responses that may be received!
Silence not always but usually is a good indicator of culpability.
Been wanting to know if Naidu got a cut of the deal for making this deal with Fiji’s precious resources. Can’t believe this info is not public.
I believe there should have been a committee of decision makers on something so important. This needs to happen. But they need to be reputable and knowledgeable and they could be tough.
Also the deal should have some benefits for Fijians.
Perhaps add these question to your list.
1. Richard, after advising Biman that the allegations against him are baseless, did you also advice him NOT to cooperate with FICAC investigations and NOT to submit to requests by FICAC to turn up at their office for interview? Is this the sort of advice you give all your clients to NOT cooperate with lawful authorities when they are under an investigation?
2. Did you actively participate in blocking any attempts by FICAC to arrest and charge Biman by personally contacting relevant authorities?
3. Richard, being an active member of the Fiji Law Society, do you support the actions of the sitting President as Counsel for BM in interfering with the FICAC investigations by personally entering the premises of FICAC with other senior practitioners of the bar and demanding the release of BM whilst making comments that “we are not interfering” as claimed by Francis?
4. Is it normal practice of yours to tell your client that if in your view the “allegations are baseless” then they have the right to refuse cooperation with investigators when ideally the determination of guilty or innocence rests with the Court?
5. As a very senior member of the bar, given the allegations made by Francis, in your legal point of view, can you confirm if the actions of those senior practitioners who interfered in the investigation process of BM including the Chief Registrar, and Acting Chief Justice amounts to an abuse of office, and in the case of the latter 2, shouldn’t they be suspended with immediate effect from their respective positions for misbehavior, abuse of office, abuse of authority for their direct interference in preventing an independent office carrying out their lawful mandate?
Prime Minister Rabuka should be made an honorary fireman. Ever since he came into office (not power), he has been putting out fires.
Lawyers last facebook post 16 days ago…gone into hiding
This the final straw by GD. It’s beyond comprehension. This is the power of investigative journalism which is lacking in Fiji by choice now. The word prominent “lawyer” comes with restraint and is only applicable to those who are ethical by all means. The situation is out of control in Fiji. There is no ethics and morality left. Everything is widely exposed by GD and Victor Lal with abundance of evidence requiring no further evidence but only necessary action. RN portrayed himself as champion of democracy and advocated adherence to the rule of law but the truth is that when he was in Fiscal Review Committee, he failed to recuse himself when Fiji Water applied for tax exemption as simple as that. There was a direct conflict of interest since his law firm of which he is a partner represents Fiji Water and this is an established fact. His actions was an arbitrary act to the rights of FRCS in losing millions of dollars when he played a direct role in getting the exemption. Munro Leys former partner works for Fiji Water as legal counsel, Mr Nicholas Barnes. Furthermore he got away when he made mockery of a High Court Judge, when a prominent lawyer would never ridicule judiciary. Now on the latest saga, what role he played in the FICAC in not getting Biman Prasad charged as alluded by former deputy commissioner of FICAC that there was sufficient evidence to get him charged and the best thing was for the court to decide guilt or otherwise of the DPM? There is no such powers of any lawyers in the world to stop a charge in getting filed in court of law. No one can ever do that. Only DPP and FICAC itself can file and terminate proceedings. Those counsels who stood in the way of former Deputy Commissioner have pervaded the course of justice and must be charged and tried in court. And not further down the lane, having an affair with a former fellow counsel of his law firm, what else? Prominent, yeah right, but in what sense?
Just to clarify: I have asked whether it is true if he has been having an affair. We await confirmation of what I have been told. And it is not the alleged affair itself that matters so much but what has allegedly happened after that.
The elders used to say “patience pays big time”.
Richard Naidus patience is definitely paying big. The only cost to it is the rot of the nation and the loss of tax dollars to ordinary Fijians.
I see many Fijians defending him on Facebook, not realizing he’s set for his days ahead while you will continue to struggle with basic living.
Its people like him most educated voters trusted and voted the way of Biman and Rabuka. How have they broken the trust of the people. How have more than 50000 people left fiji since the election.
For once I wish hell is real, for some people deserve hell like no other.
I remember clearly the faces of Biman and Richard when the Coalition win was declared just before Xmas.
There were two lonely Indians in that room who looked shocked. They didn’t look jovial. They were in plain sight and it seemed that they were hit by a train.
That there was the start of the failure of this country. A start of another Girmitya and the release of treasonous thugs like GS and all.
Richard must be reading this.
We the Fiji Indians want your answer to Graham’s questions because this is what journalism looks like. Not the Simpson’s and Narayan’s being soft and sold claiming freedom in media.
We are watching! Very very closely.
Richard Naidu, the stage has been set by a professional journalist who understands how the narrative works. You can come clean and fess up, or, continue with the very same narrative that you accused the FFP of doing when they were in power. Shame the devil and tell the truth, if your conscience hasn’t been burnt. Not only the Indians are watching you and waiting. All of Fiji is!
The Terms of Reference for the FICAC Commission of Inquiry is being drafted according to dementia stricken Rambo. The question is, who is/are drafting the TOR and whether those criminals involved in all of this including their so called highly qualified legal experts are also part of the criminal gang that is contributing. If so, then we have a case of the Dracula guarding the blood bank.
Moreover, other civil servants and public sector officials who were alleged to have breached certain laws were immediately suspended by the f#$king Clown Siromi and Santa Clause Temo even though charges were not laid. BM’s case is no different and if anything far more severe and serious- she comes in with a heavy baggage (pun intended) with possible charges being laid by FICAC before her rushed appointment. She needs to be stood down asap with a bitch slap whilst this inquiry takes place.
But let’s face it, nothing is going to change and this is all a show and tick in the box.
A lot of the questions you ask are either of his personal life or in his role as a lawyer. None of which he has to disclose.
Ethically, as a lawyer, he will not disclose anything, so I don’t see your purpose in asking.
He owes the public nothing to account for his personal life. Hell, Lynda bad Aseri never did.
The only bit that makes him publicly accessible is his role on the Fiscal Review Committee and his role there was to make recommendations. But a committee exists of more than one person, so maybe you should target the spokesperson about the recommendations made by the committee as a whole rather than single out one man. The entire committee would have had to endorse the recommendations. Just a thought.
I don’t think you understand. The questions about his personal life relate to what happened after that – alleged access to commercial secrets and allegedly recommending the lady in question for a position on the board of a public enterprise.
That is very much an issue of public concern.
Based on evidence available on Fijileaks Biman’s case is clear cut. The guy has been colluding to inflate the value of his asset to maximize borrowings, in order to grow his assets. He then understates the value of the same assets to avoid/minimise paying the capital gains tax. He is able to do this by wheeling and dealing within his family. And makes statutory declarations that what he is doing is legit. As a Minister responsible for Govt finances should he be allowed to get away with it ? It’s suspicious that he appointed one of his pals in charge of the tax dept.
GD, no other way to get this over to you so I’ll leave a comment for you to read. You do not have to publish it. Shaenaz Voss’s charge was withdrawn by the State on Thursday last week. Trial was scheduled for 15 and 16 October 2024. The offence she was charged with since the early part of 2023 carried a $5,000.00 fine. Shaenaz had made various representations to DPP through her lawyers. On 26 September 2024, her charge was withdrawn in Nausori Magistrates Court. Her passport was returned to her. Laisani Tabuakoro (Assistant DPP) gave no reason for why State was withdrawing the charge.
Two hours later Shaenaz’s lawyers told her CID rang and asked for her to present herself for a caution interview, for the same matter, on Wednesday 2 October 2024 in Nadi. They said they were also going to charge Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum as her co-accused, and that the two would be charged and detained on Thursday night in Nadi Police Station, and presented for bail in Nadi Magistrates Court. Both of them live in Nadi. There is no need for detention in a Police Station. Laisani Tabuakoro from DPP is in charge of this file. She is based in ODPP’s Western Office and it seems for her convenience the interview and charge, and bail will all happen in Nadi.
Why is there such a rush to charge?
Devanesh and Gul are also conducting the Grace Road Judicial Review Hearing that will see a decision in whether Daniel Kim is deported to South Korea or released in Fiji with his work permit being reissued. This hearing is scheduled for Thursday, Friday and Saturday this week.
Shaenaz is 64 years old. Aiyaz is now 59 and his health has deteriorated with not being able to receive the medical attention that he requires and which is not available in Fiji. His applications for medical treatment with his doctors in Singapore have been declined twice. My heart goes out to them, and to Devanesh and Gul who are being bullied by CID and DPP only because they represent these individuals.
I am sorry to hear this. It smacks of total vindictiveness. As you know, I argued that Aiyaz SK should be able to access medical care abroad.
Unfortunately, they have it in for both of them. So they nail their opponents and leave their supporters accused of wrongdoing unmolested. Nothing to do with justice. Welcome to the new Fiji.
Graham, more people need to know about this. As a former Police Officer and Police Prosecutor I can see how unreasonable and unlawful these actions are.
So you mean that women in Fiji are idiots, that they cannot raise to high positions or sit in committees that they have to resort to affairs? Many women have shed tears, studied hard , sacrificed and such articles can be seen as bullying. Will you be ok if any women you write about commit suicide , break up of families..
Er, it is about getting there on one’s own merits. Get a grip.
So you are saying that the lady in question does not have merits. I wonder what merits you hold.
I am a pain-in-the-arse old prick who has an old fashioned notion that those we elect to supposedly serve us do so with integrity, truth and honour, keep their promises, don’t lie and cheat, obey the law, set a proper example for our young people and work for the benefit of those who are the least fortunate among us instead of for themselves.
Strange, isn’t it? My apologies. I must do better.
You are an outstanding journalist and as an Australian, I am proud of you for holding all elites in Fiji to account Graham. I am just finishing off reading Eric Beecher’s The Men Who Killed the News. I am so glad that we have both people like you and Fijileaks holding power to account.
The late Reverend Jeffrey Parsons, a great mentor of mine from my student days at Cranbrook, would have been proud to see a Newington College boy stick up for truth and justice.
Keep it up for great investigative political journalism.
You really are too kind. But thank you.
Richard on his Facebook page early September…
If there was a Miss FICAC would we just give her the crown already? We wouldn’t want to be investigated🤔
#hibiscusthoughts
I wonder if there is a Mr Law because we know we could have few rogue ones competing. Without investigations too.
What say Richard?
Fiji is an awkward country.
FICAC finds Tabuya not worthy of any charges. She divorced her HABIBI husband in 2016 so she doesn’t have to declare his assets. That’s what FICAC says. But in 2022 she declared and listed HABIBI as her spouse for FEO. 😂🤦🏽♀️
I wonder how Richard declares Rhea then.
Just saying. It’s an awkward world of legal practitioners in Vitia.
The declaration was actually in February 2023. Fresh article just posted.