Langman reveals he was told by Sayed-Khaiyum to hold on regarding Dr Sharma's FICAC investigation

Former Deputy FICAC Commissioner, George Langman has revealed in the Health Tender trial that he was told by former Attorney-General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum to hold on until he gets back to Langman after Langman informed him about the information they had gathered about the then Health Minister, Dr Neil Sharma.

Langman is the first State witness to take the stand in the trial.

He served as the Deputy Commissioner of FICAC from 2012 to 2019.

While giving his evidence, Langman told the court that when the complaint was received by FICAC from an anonymous source, he advised the Manager Legal and the Manager Investigations about the complaint.

He said that on 20th February 2012, he advised that an investigation into the then Minister for Health be carried out.

He also stated that from the investigations conducted, sufficient evidence was found, and he therefore informed the line minister at the time, the then Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum.

Langman says that from 2012 until he resigned in 2019, there was no further update from Sayed-Khaiyum despite his follow-up a month after he had updated the Attorney-General about the investigation.

Langman says Sayed-Khaiyum gave the same response.

He also told the court that he had Informed the then Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama about the issue with a Power Point presentation that was made at the Prime Minister’s Office in the presence of the then Attorney-General, Sayed-Khaiyum.

Langman said it was stated in that meeting that the matter should be referred back to the then Attorney-General.

The cross-examination will take place this afternoon.

Doctor Sharma is charged with two counts of abuse of office and two counts of breach of trust by a person employed in the public service.

It is alleged that Doctor Sharma between July 26th 2011 to September 13th 2011, abused his position as the Minister of Health by intentionally failing to comply with statutory requirements for tenders stipulated under Procurement Regulation 2010 for the Ministry of Health Tender CTN 66/2011 and actively engaged in acts to undermine CTN 66/2011 in favour of bidder, Hospital Engineering & Consultancy Ltd also known as Hospineer.

It is also alleged that Doctor Sharma between October 18th 2011 to October 20th 2011, abused his position as the Minister of Health by intentionally failing to comply with statutory requirements for tenders stipulated under Procurement Regulation 2010 for the Ministry of Health Tender CTN 153/2011 and actively engaged in acts to undermine CTN 153/2011 in favour of bidder, Hospital Engineering & Consultancy Ltd also known as Hospineer.

Dr Sharma also allegedly between July 26th 2011 to September 13th 2011, in the discharge of his duty committed a breach of trust by intentionally manipulating the tender process for the Ministry of Health Tender CTN 66/2011 in favour of Hospital Engineering & Consultancy Ltd also known as Hospineer, and between October 18th 2011 to October 20th 2011, in the discharge of his duty committed a breach of trust by intentionally manipulating the tender process for Ministry of Health Tender CTN 153/2011 in favour of Hospital Engineering & Consultancy Ltd also known as Hospineer.

Former Prime Minister Bainimarama is charged with one count of abuse of office.

It is alleged that Bainimarama on September 13th 2011, being employed in the public service as the Minister of Finance of the Republic of Fiji, recklessly abused his position as the Minister of Finance by granting waiver of tender process without lawful justification for Ministry of Health Tender CTN 66/2011 in violation of the Procurement Regulation 2010.

Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum is charged with one count of abuse of office and one count of obstructing the course of justice.

It is alleged that Sayed-Khaiyum on October 20th 2011, recklessly abused his position as the Acting Minister of Finance by granting waiver of tender process without lawful justification for Ministry of Health Tender CTN 153/2011 in violation of the Procurement Regulation 2010.

It is also alleged that Sayed-Khaiyum between June 1st 2012 to March 31st 2019, being employed as the Attorney General, intentionally obstructed FICAC's investigation against Dr Neil Sharma in the Ministry of Health Tender CTN 66/2011 by directing all investigations to be shelved until further notice which resulted in the cessation of FICAC investigation and no criminal charges being filed against Dr Sharma for the past 10 years.

Sayed-Khaiyum allegedly knew that there was compelling evidence in the FICAC investigation which would have resulted in criminal charges being filed against Dr Sharma, by issuing such a directive as the Attorney General, and he had allegedly obstructed the course of justice.