Chaudhry shocked by outcome
FORMER prime minister and Fiji Labour Party leader Mahendra Chaudhry says he is shocked by the Director of Public Prosecutions Christopher Pryde’s decision to close an alleged assault case against Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama by Opposition MP
Pio Tikoduadua.
“We are advised that the grounds advanced by him in support of the decision were ill-founded and misapplied in this particular case.
“The decision also calls to question the independence of the office of the DPP,” said Mr Chaudhry.
He said the disciplinary rules referred to by the DPP were meant for members of Parliament who committed a breach of parliamentary privilege. He added it was not meant for those who were alleged to have committed a criminal act.
“The Parliament is not empowered to deal with criminal acts committed by its members,” he claimed.
“Section 20 (j) of the Parliamentary Powers and Privileges Act 1965 that the DPP refers to, states: “any person who threatens or assaults a member or an officer of Parliament on account of his conduct as such member or officer …. shall be guilty of an offence and liable to on conviction to a fine not exceeding four hundred dollars or, in default of payment thereof, to imprisonment not exceeding two years or to such imprisonment without the option of a fine or to both such fine and imprisonment.
“Offences listed in Section 20 of the Parliamentary Powers and Privileges Act are matters for the courts to decide, not the privileges committee or the Parliament.
“By his own admission, the DPP agrees that had the Privileges Committee and Parliament not dealt with the case, there was sufficient evidence for the matter to proceed to court.
“Mr Pio Tikoduadua has been denied justice in this particular case. He has been penalised twice — first he was assaulted and then he was suspended from Parliament for six months for no fault of his own.”
In a statement yesterday, Mr Pryde said the file has been closed and no further action will be taken on the matter.
Mr Pio Tikoduadua has been denied justice in this particular case. He has been penalised twice — first he was assaulted and then he was suspended ... – Mahendra Chaudhry