Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
Fiji's suspended chief prosecutor claims the government wants to get rid of all foreigners working in prominent positions in the public service.
New Zealander Christopher Pryde, 59, was suspended by the head of state in April 2023 for alleged "misbehaviour" and is refusing to attend a hearing on the matter on Monday, 2 December, unless his salary is restored.
"I will not be bullied into participating in a hearing without the ability to adequately defend myself," he told RNZ Pacific on Thursday.
"I believe that there was a conspiracy to remove me from office," he said.
"I think the government's agenda is to remove any expatriates in top positions in the public sector, if you look around there are hardly any left."
Pryde was appointed as chief prosecutor in November 2011, but was suspended on full pay by the former president, Ratu Wiliame Katonivere, on the advice of Fiji's Judicial Services Committee (JSC).
He was charged after being seen talking to the former Attorney General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum at a public event last February, hosted by the Japanese Embassy in Suva.
A police file on Syaed-Khaiyum had been forwarded to his office at the time the two met, but Pryde said he had not yet read it.
Fiji's Attorney-General at the time, Siromi Turaga, said this was tantamount to misconduct.
Christopher Pryde, left, former director of public prosecution. Photo: ODPP Fiji
Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka subsequently said that people in high office needed to be "very aware of who is watching what we do."
"For the DPP (Pryde) to be seen fraternising with a high profile person under investigation (Sayed-Khaiyum) would not be the right thing to do", RNZ Pacific reported.
The government set up a Tribunal in March this year to investigate the charge, nearly 12 months after Pryde's suspension.
"Why did it take so long to set it up? I believe there was a fishing expedition to dig up dirt on me," Pryde said.
In April this year, he was also charged with receiving superannuation payments that had not been approved by the JSC.
"I had already corresponded with the commission on this issue and denied any wrong-doing. I pointed out that these and all other entitlements were audited twice a year by the government and the Auditor-General and no issue had ever been raised" he said.
Pryde's superannuation ceased then his salary and all contractual benefits were "unilaterally" cut off by the Fijian government in July this year.
"To cease my salary at that late stage deprives me of the ability to adequately defend the charges. It is also a breach of Fijian employment law and a clear attempt at intimidation to pressure me to resign."
"I have done nothing wrong, I am happy to appear in the Tribunal to defend myself against these contrived allegations. But I am only willing to do so by instructing legal counsel. The JSC has deprived me of this right."
"I was consulting a lawyer about the defence of my case and whether or not to withdraw from the role right up until my pay was cut," he said.
"A member of the Tribunal suggested I either seek legal aid or defend myself."
Senior Suva lawyer Ratu David George Toganivalu was appointed to act in Pryde's place as acting DPP after he was suspended.
Toganivalu died in the office last year. He was superseded by John Rabuku, who was then removed by a panel of judges after he was found guilty of professional misconduct some years before and was therefore ineligible under the Constitution for appointment.
Nancy Tikoisuva is now the acting DPP.
RNZ Pacific has approached Turaga for comment.