Former Attorney General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum and former Supervisor of Elections, Mohammed Saneem have been found not guilty by Chief Justice Salesi Temo.
While delivering the judgement, Chief Justice Temo says prosecution didn't prove their case against both accused persons beyond reasonable doubt.
He says the problem started with a misreading of clause 2.2 (1) (aa) of the Second Deed of Variation which was part of the Contract of Service between the Government and Saneem.
He says the interpretation was also flawed from the beginning.
Chief Justice Temo says that the report to police was unnecessary.
He further says that there is no evidence that Sayed-Khaiyum abused his office and stressed that Saneem had lawful authority to obtain $55,944.03 which was paid extra as taxes.
Acting DPP, Nancy Tikoisauva has indicated that they will appeal the matter.
Sayed-Khaiyum was charged with one count of abuse of office while Saneem was charged with one count of receiving a corrupt benefit.
While speaking to the media outside the court after the judgement, Sayed-Khaiyum and Saneem say they welcome the High Court's decision of acquitting them.
Sayed-Khaiyum says he agrees with Chief Justice Temo's findings that the second Deed of Variation had been misread from the beginning and that there had been no need for the matter to be referred to Police.
He also says he had raised concerns about police officers making false oaths in affidavits and had taken the matter up with FICAC and the Police Commissioner.
Saneem says there had been a lot of public commentary surrounding the case by people who were quick to judge, and he was pleased that the matter had finally been resolved.
Both also thanked their lawyers, Devanesh Sharma and Gul Fatima, for representing them throughout the case.
They also said that their families have endured a lot as well due to the case.
It was alleged that between the 30th of June, 2022 and the 12th of July, 2022 in Suva, whilst being employed in the civil service as the Acting Prime Minister of Fiji, Sayed-Khaiyum signed a Deed of Variation and Addendum between the Government of Fiji and the Supervisor of Elections, Mohammed Saneem, agreeing to pay the taxes of Mohammed Saneem without the proper approval of the Constitutional Offices Commission and the President of Fiji, in abuse of the authority of his office, which was an arbitrary act prejudicial to the rights of the Government of Fiji.
It was alleged that between the 1st of June and the 31st of July 2022, while being employed as the Supervisor of Elections, Saneem without lawful authority and reasonable excuse, asked for, and obtained a benefit for himself, that is, the approval and payment of deductible tax relief of more than $50,000 on his back pay from a senior Government official.
They have now been acquitted after being found not guilty.