The trial of former Fiji Broadcasting Corporation CEO Riyaz Sayed-Khaiyum and current Chief Financial Officer Vimlesh Sagar over legal fees will start tomorrow after Magistrate Charles Ratakele declined FICAC’s application to vacate the trial date.
FICAC lawyer Setefano Komaibaba told the court that they wanted the trial date vacated after two crucial witnesses had migrated to the United States and New Zealand.
In his ruling, Magistrate Ratakele says the application was not made in good cause and the trial must proceed.
Defence lawyer for Sayed-Khaiyum, Devanesh Sharma, says his client had been ready for trial for more than two years to clear his name.
He says Sayed-Khaiyum was unable to visit his daughter in New Zealand because of a stop-departure order.
Sharma says any further adjournment would be unfair.
He says the legal fees had been discussed at every FBC Board meeting.
Sharma further says that if the prosecution was unable to proceed, the appropriate step would be to file a nolle prosequi.
Defence lawyer for Sagar, Ritesh Singh says his client had approved the payments in his capacity as Chief Financial Officer.
He says Sagar did what he was supposed to do.
Singh says the Board was aware of the payments.
He adds that he wanted a fair trial and was ready to proceed.
Sayed-Khaiyum is charged with one count of abuse of office for gain and one count of general dishonesty causing a loss.
It is alleged that between 2017 and 2024, he pursued five legal cases without Board approval, resulting in a loss of $138,813.37.
Sagar faces one count of general dishonesty causing a loss for allegedly approving payments totalling $15,075.88 to R Patel Lawyers without Board approval in 2023.
