DPP PRYDE LEADS STAFF OF HIS OFFICE IN FAREWELL TO LOYAL COLLEAGUE KOROVOU
EULOGY BY THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC PROSECUTIONS, MR CHRISTOPHER PRYDE, AT THE FUNERAL FOR ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC PROSECUTIONS, MR MOSESE KOROVOU.
Iam deeply honoured and privileged to have been asked to say a few words today about a man who was a beloved husband to Milika; a father to Vetinia, Luisa, Manaisi and Kelera; a father-in-law to Eroni and Solomoni; a grandfather to Inia, Esther, Grace, Eroni Jnr, and Mosese; a brother to Mate, Samuela Jnr, Suliasi, Safaira, Luisa, Joana, and Lui; a son to Kelera and Samuela Snr as well as a very dear, loyal colleague and friend to each of us in the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
For all of us, Mosese Korovou was a quietly comforting and supportive presence in the office; always available to listen, always available to advise, always available to assist.
His absence from the office will be keenly and sorely felt for a long time to come and I would like to take a few moments to talk about the public Mr Korovou, the Assistant Director of Public
Prosecutions. Mr Korovou started his career as a legal officer in the ODPP on November 22nd, 2001 some 18 years ago.
As a young and eager officer he was gradually promoted up the ranks.
Work Background
First to Senior Legal Officer then Principal Legal Officer and manager of the Western Division then up to the North in 2008 for two years as acting Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions and in overall charge of the Northern Division.
Then he was back to Lautoka in 2010 for a brief stint before being transferred to Suva in May 2011 when his appointment as Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions was confirmed and where he remained until his death last Saturday.
For my entire time as DPP he was ADPP and a valued member of our senior management team having been one of the only officers to have served for so long and to have served in each of the offices around the country. He was the allocations manager for Suva and rendered advice and appeared in court on a huge number of important and seminal appeal cases. He was a mentor to many. He participated in all aspects of ODPP life.
Like me, he was not a very active sportsman, but he always turned out at our sports days; he was always there at our social occasions.
He very rarely took a day off work and his accumulated leave was something I had to constantly urge him to use. Even when he needed to take sick leave, it was only reluctantly requested. Two weeks ago, he came into my office clutching a leave form.
He had been unwell but had got out of bed, got dressed in our formal office attire and came to personally deliver his sick leave request form to me. I told him he could just have telephoned in and it would have been granted, but I think secretly he wanted me to turn it down so he could get back to work. I don’t think I would have had as much commitment to the job being so unwell but such was the man.
In addition to his many responsibilities, he would act in the position of DPP in my absence and I could always be assured the office was in good hands.
A man of respect
He represented the State in a great many cases and at all levels of the criminal justice system.
He was respected by defence counsel and judiciary alike for his acumen, his ability, his intelligence, his judgment, and his professionalism in court. We have members of the defence bar as well as the judiciary in attendance today as testament to how well respected he was.
On a personal note, I have known Mosese Korovou for nearly 10 years. In that time I came to depend on him for his sound advice, his dependability, his loyalty, and his friendship.
A more humble man you could not hope to meet. He was also a very private man and it was my privilege to get to know more of this private man over the years and I will always be deeply appreciative of the help and assistance he gave to me over the years.
He loved his work, he loved the office, he loved the staff and we loved him. You would never see him losing his temper; you would never see him losing control and he never spoke ill of anyone.
In fact the worst I ever heard him say about a person was that a person had disappointed him.
Man of religion
He was a man of strong Christian beliefs and I am sure his faith kept him strong during some very trying times in the office.
The job of a state prosecutor is not an easy one. You are criticised for the decisions you make, often unfairly, yet you have to take it on the chin. This Mr Korovou did, but he never let these things get the better of him and we all gained strength from his belief that if you acted with utmost integrity and professionalism in everything you did you could hold your head high. Mosese Korovou was a man who could hold his head high.
You will be remembered
Henry Longfellow said: “When a great man dies, for years the light he leaves behind him shines on the path of men.”
I feel sure that Mr Korovou will long be remembered by many, but especially by me and my colleagues at the ODPP. I want to conclude with an ancient Hebrew proverb that I think is apt: “Say not in grief he is no more … but live in thankfulness that he was” Thank you, Mr Korovou. Vinaka vakalevu.