Christopher Pryde, Fiji's Director of Public Prosecutions Photo: supplied
Fiji's suspended chief prosecutor has revealed the government secretly offered him NZ$150,000 to resign and avoid an inquiry into his alleged "misbehaviour".
New Zealander Christopher Pryde, 59, rejected the offer and refused to attend a hearing into the matter last week, claiming he was financially unable to defend himself.
"They (the government) want to get rid of me, it's all part of their ethno-national agenda," Pryde told RNZ Pacific.
"Vulagi (foreigners) and Indo-Fijians are being replaced by iTaukei (indigenous Fijians)."
"Hiring in Fiji is not based on merit, the government doesn't care, as long as iTaukei are at the top and in control." he said.
RNZ Pacific has put Pryde's accusations to the Fiji government for comment multiple times but received no response.
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In an official letter, the Judicial Services Committee (JSC) offered Pryde the out-of-court settlement two months ago, after considering "all material at hand."
Its secretary, Tomasi Bainivalu sent it to Pryde's lawyer in Nadi on 7 October, outlining the deal.
"The offer will be subject to Mr Pryde tendering his immediate resignation as the DPP and this would be considered as full and final settlement, bringing an end to the proceeding." he said.
"Acceptance of this offer would also act as a bar to any proceedings from Mr Pryde against the JSC in any court of law."
Pryde said: "I have thought about resigning, but why should I? I haven't done anything wrong."
"I didn't want a grubby payout in exchange for quietly disappearing, I wanted a letter from the President clearing me of any wrongdoing, so that I left with my reputation intact," he said.
Suspended for 'misconduct'
Pryde was appointed as director of public prosecutions in November 2011, but was suspended on full pay in April 2023 by the former president, Ratu Wiliame Katonivere, on the advice of the JSC.
He was charged after he was seen talking to the former Attorney General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum at a public event last February, hosted by the Japanese Embassy in Suva.
At issue was whether or not Pryde had read a police file on an active investigation into Sayed-Khaiyum before they talked. Pryde maintains he has never seen the file.
Fiji's Attorney General at the time, Siromi Turaga, now justice minister, claimed the conversation between the two was tantamount to "misconduct."
Fiji's Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka subsequently said that people in high office needed to be "very aware of who is watching what we do," RNZ Pacific reported.
In April this year, the suspended director of public prosecutions faced a fresh charge of receiving superannuation payments without the approval of the JSC.
His superannuation, salary and all contractual benefits were "unilaterally" cut off by the Fijian government three months later.
Concerns with inquiry process
The Fiji Law Society said prior to the hearing that it should not proceed, and it declined a request from the Tribunal to act on Pryde's behalf.
The Tribunal had asked the society to offer legal expertise, present arguments and points of law and advise on the broader legal implications of the proceedings.
The society's president, Wylie Clarke voiced his concerns in a letter to the tribunal on November 29th.
"We are concerned about the manner in which the inquiry is proceeding. We are of the view that it cannot proceed and we cannot participate in the manner proposed," Clarke said.
"We have serious concerns regarding the fairness of an inquiry being conducted in Mr Pryde's absence...he was initially represented by counsel and withdrew only due to lack of funds when his salary was suspended."
"We need to bear in mind his right for procedural and administrative fairness under Section 16 (1) (a) of the Constitution." he said.
The tribunal is expected to make its final recommendations to President Naiqama Lalabalavu by December 23.
Pryde, whose whereabouts are unclear, told RNZ Pacific he already knows what the outcome of the hearing will be.
"I will be removed from office and the acting chief prosecutor, Nancy Tikoisuva will replace me."
"I don't know how I could appeal, there's no point in appealing via a judicial review, it could take years."
