Christopher Pryde will resume his duties at the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions next week, 21 months after being removed from office nearly two years ago.
In a brief email to the media this week, Pryde stated that he had informed the president’s office of his intention to return as Director of Public Prosecutions on Monday, January 20.
Pryde’s return comes after a three-member tribunal cleared him of any wrongdoing regarding allegations of misbehaviour, leading to the revocation of his suspension, which had been in place since April 13, 2023.
The tribunal, chaired by Justice Anare Tuilevuka and including Justice Chaitanya Lakshman and Justice Samuela Qica, cleared Pryde of two allegations. It concluded that the alleged actions did not constitute “misbehaviour” warranting his removal under section 117(6) of the 2013 Constitution.
On the first allegation—that Pryde engaged in extensive discussions with former Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum at a social event on February 28, 2023, while a police investigation file on Sayed-Khaiyum was awaiting a decision in Pryde’s office—the tribunal found a violation of the DPP’s Code of Conduct. This code demands that staff avoid activities that could create a perception of conflict of interest. However, the tribunal ruled that the violation did not amount to “misbehaviour” as there was no clear evidence that Pryde and Sayed-Khaiyum discussed the file.
The tribunal agreed with the Fiji Law Society’s submission on the second allegation—that Pryde received US$1,000 monthly in superannuation without written approval from the Judicial Services Commission (JSC). It determined that approval was granted when the president signed Pryde’s contract on September 4, 2019. The agreement specified his entitlement to superannuation funds, to be paid either to the Fiji National Provident Fund (FNPF) or an offshore fund at his discretion.
Pryde’s return is expected to prompt a reshuffle in the office of the DPP, currently led on an acting basis by Nancy Tikoisuva.
As directed by the president, Pryde will first report to the chairperson of the JSC, Chief Justice Salesi Temo. Officers from the Chief Justice’s office will then accompany Pryde to the DPP office.
