News
Court admits company document in Professor Prasad trial
Posted by Media Team 04 September 2026
The Suva Magistrates Court has overruled a defence objection and admitted into evidence a company document tendered by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) in the trial of former Deputy Prime Minister Professor Biman Prasad.
The document is Form 203, a statutory company document concerning particulars of the directors and secretary of Platinum Hotels & Resorts PTE Limited, filed under the repealed Companies Act.
During the trial, the defence objected to the admission of Form 203 on hearsay grounds, submitting that the person who prepared the document was not among the prosecution witnesses and would therefore not be available for cross-examination. The defence also raised concerns about the authenticity, reliability and truthfulness of the document.
In response, FICAC Manager Legal Mr Joseph Work submitted that Form 203 was kept by the Registrar of Companies and formed part of the public record. FICAC further submitted that the document was a statutory return created and lodged pursuant to legal requirements governing company registration.
In its ruling, the Court noted that company documents relating to statutory registration requirements form part of the records maintained by the Registrar of Companies and are accessible to members of the public for relevant searches.
The Court held that Form 203 was admissible under the public-document exception to the hearsay rule and overruled the defence objection.
The Court further stated that the admission of Form 203 into evidence does not determine the weight to be attached to it, which remains a matter for the Court.
The prosecution alleges that Professor Prasad's declaration of assets, liabilities and income as at 31 December 2015 failed to disclose what the prosecution alleges was his directorship in Platinum Hotels & Resorts PTE Limited.
The allegations remain to be determined by the Court. Professor Prasad is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty according to law.
The trial continues on Monday, 7 September 2026.
