Former Attorney General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum has been granted bail by Chief Magistrate Waleen George.
Sayed-Khaiyum is charged with one count of abuse of office.
It relates to a report lodged by the Acting Supervisor of Elections, Ana Mataiciwa.
It is 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.
Acting Director of Public Prosecutions, David Toganivalu did not object to bail however he requested for bail conditions.
Sayed-Khaiyum’s bail conditions include reporting at the Namaka Police Station on the last Saturday of every month between 6am to 6pm, not interfering with witnesses, 2 sureties and a personal surety of $10,000, not to reoffend, surrender his travel documents and to reside at his residence in Martintar, Nadi.
His sureties are Viam Pillay and Parveen Bala in their personal capacity.
A plea will be taken at a later date.
The matter has been adjourned to the 13th of June.
Earlier:
Former Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says the reason he was given for being handcuffed last night to be taken from CID Headquarters to Totogo Police Station was that it was for his own safety, so obviously he took the word of the Police and was handcuffed.
While speaking to the media after appearing in court for a charge of abuse of office, he says the police conducting the interviews that he was called in for over a month have been very courteous and professional.
Sayed-Khaiyum alleges he understands some of them are under a lot of political pressure.
He claims they get told certain things and that is the direction that they have to take.
He also says this is actually a political witch-hunt and they are seeing it repeatedly.
Sayed-Khaiyum says there are also a number of paradoxes where the suspended DPP being reprimanded and summoned by the Attorney General to explain why he was talking to Sayed-Khaiyum at a cocktail party where dozens of people were around yet there is the Minister of Home Affairs seeming to have a one-on-one discussion with a suspect that was listed by the suspended DPP.
He says there seems to be a lot of contradictions about what is happening.
Chief of Intelligence and Investigations, ACP Sakeo Raikaci has maintained the investigation team is given full autonomy to conduct their investigation and report directly to his office as the Chief of Intelligence and Investigations and do not take directions from anyone else within or outside the organization.
Meanwhile, Attorney General Siromi Turaga had earlier said the suspended DPP allegedly had the conversation with Sayed-Khaiyum when files concerning Voreqe Bainimarama, Sitiveni Qiliho and Sayed-Khaiyum were with the DPP.
He said this is an alleged act of misconduct or misbehaviour.
The Attorney General says he had summoned suspended DPP Christopher Pryde to explain, and at first instance, Pryde was defensive but he later allegedly admitted his mistake.
Turaga says Pryde will be subject of a fair hearing before a Tribunal as required under the Constitution when there is an alleged misconduct or misbehaviour.
Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka has stressed there is no political witch-hunt.
Former Attorney General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum is currently appearing in the Suva Magistrates Court.
Sayed-Khaiyum arrived in a police vehicle a while ago and was escorted straight to the court cell area.
Some in the crowd yelled out at him “justice for Fiji, it’s your turn now Khaiyum.”
Some of the supporters at the courthouse included Leader of Opposition Inia Seruiratu, FijiFirst MPs Premila Kumar, Faiyaz Koya, Parveen Bala, Naisa Tuinaceva, Virendra Lal and Sayed-Khaiyum’s brother, Riyaz and other family members.
Sayed-Khaiyum is charged with one count of abuse of office.
Police Chief of Intelligence and Investigations, ACP Sakeo Raikaci says the charge sanctioned by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions relates to a report lodged by the Acting Supervisor of Elections, Ana Mataiciwa.
Sayed-Khaiyum was kept in custody last night.
We have also asked Police on the progress of other investigations relating to Sayed-Khaiyum. They are yet to respond.
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