Dear Editor – I have made my position clear in relation to the matter complained of under this subject.
I will not repeat that explanation except to say, I as Ronald Bei Talasasa Jr and holding the position of Director of Public Prosecutions, had at an initial stage disqualified myself from making a decision on this matter.
I had this matter re-allocated to the then Acting Deputy DPP and an Adviser, who has vast experiences in criminal prosecutions, as being a former DPP of Fiji, to handle and properly advise police over this matter.
At that stage there was no decision made by me on how this matter were to proceed.
It simply left my hands and no longer had anything to do with any decision on how the matter should turn, i.e. whether to proceed or not to proceed.
The writer of the article made mention of a relative giving evidence in support of Rodney Hiva.
Thank you for letting me know of that.
But that was not the reason for disqualifying myself at the initial stage. The reasons for disqualifying myself were based on my personal knowledge of both parties and that one of the accused person is a relative.
It was based on ethical and professional reasons that I did so.
With that information of a relative giving evidence in support of Rodney Hiva, I say, just as well I disqualified myself.
Ronald Bei Talasasa Jr
DPP
