Press Release

High Court Directs Joint Hearing of Kamikamica & Prasad Applications

Posted by Media Team 5 February 2026

Former Deputy Prime Ministers, Manoa Kamikamica and Professor Biman Prasad have filed stay of criminal proceedings against them in the Suva Magistrates Court.

Defence counsel for the two applicants, Mr. Wylie Clarke and Mr. Richard Naidu, informed the court this morning that they had subpoenaed two journalists—Mr. Jake Wise of The Fiji Times and Ms. Lavenia Lativerata of Mai TV—for their respective applications.

Counsel for Mr. Kamikamica and Mr. Prasad requested that the court order that the record of evidence of both Ms. Lativerata and Mr. Wise in HAM 81 of 2025 be deemed the record of evidence in HBM 138 of 2025, in the interest of judicial efficiency, as the applications raise a common issue regarding the validity of the appointment of FICAC Acting Commissioner, Ms. Lavi Rokoika.

The applicants further submitted that hearing both matters together would be appropriate and, given that both applicants will be represented by the same King’s Counsel during the Hearing.

Counsel for FICAC, Ms. Josann Pene and Mr. Joseph Work, strongly objected to the applications being heard together, submitting that they are separate matters and should be heard independently.

The court subsequently ordered that the two applications be heard together to save the court’s time and expediency.

Justice Siainiu Fa’alogo-Bull also clarified that the applications are not consolidated and that the record of evidence of Ms. Lativerata and Mr. Wise in HAM 81 of 2025 be deemed the record of evidence in HBM 183 of 2025.

The matters have been adjourned to 18 March for Hearing on the Permanent Stay applications.