ODPP Legal Team

Our Core Functions

The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) plays a key role in supporting the enforcement of criminal laws in Fiji, international laws and treaties and conventions that the Fijian Government has ratified, as well as contributing towards the continued development and maintenance of a just and fair criminal justice system.

The ODPP is responsible for prosecuting criminal appeals before the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Fiji. In addition, all High Court trials are prosecuted by State Counsel who also handle appeals to the High Court in Suva, Labasa and Lautoka.

Cases of special difficulty or of public interest in the Magistrates’ Courts are also processed by our office. Summary offences are ordinarily prosecuted by Police Prosecutors with oversight by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

The ODPP also engages in the delivery of lectures at the Police Academy and conducts a variety of training programmes for police prosecutors and prosecutors from other government agencies.

The DPP considers written representations concerning criminal cases from aggrieved persons, defendants, or from their lawyers.

Another major component of our work involves the provision of written advice to the Commissioner of Police, the Director of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and to other governmental departments and statutory organisations.

Nine Offices Around the Country

The ODPP has seven offices around the country with its headquarters, based in the Central division, in Suva.

We have five offices in the Western Division; in Sigatoka, Nadi, Lautoka, Ba and Rakiraki. There are also two offices in the Northern division; Labasa and Savusavu and one in the Eastern division.

Overall, the principal role of each divisional office is to assist the DPP in the deliverance of a fair and independent prosecution service, committed to the rule of law.

Ultimately, our role is to ensure that all criminal cases in every part of Fiji are prosecuted in accordance with law and sound prosecution principles, in a timely manner.

The ODPP State Counsel:

• Prepare and appear for Mentions, Trials and Appeals at the Magistrates’ Courts and at the High Courts;
• Render timely legal advice to law enforcement agencies on sufficiency of evidence on the proposed charge(s) and whether to proceed with charge(s), or to reduce and/or amend charges or to discontinue proceedings;
• Ensure proper closure of files;
• Liaise with police regarding further investigations, execution of warrants and serving of summons;
• Keep victims and witnesses of their respective cases well informed and updated on the court procedures and developments in their cases; and
• Maintain complete and accurate records of their allocated cases.