Bainimarama and Sayed-Khaiyum questioned and released from CID

FijiFirst Party Leader, Voreqe Bainimarama and General Secretary, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum are currently being questioned at the CID Headquarters.

Sayed-Khaiyum came into the headquarters in Toorak at about 3pm while Bainimarama arrived at about 3.30pm.

Police have just confirmed Bainimarama and Sayed-Khaiyum are being questioned for alleged abuse of office.

Chief of Intelligence, Investigations and Prosecutions, Acting Assistant Commissioner of Police Sakeo Raikaci says Bainimarama and Sayed-Khaiyum are both being questioned by CID for allegations of abuse of office.

This is regarding a separate report lodged earlier.

Three complaints were earlier filed against Bainimarama in January and earlier this month.

The complaints deal with alleged inciteful statements made in January.

While arriving at the CID Headquarters, Bainimarama greeted some people, asked where we were from and then said khaas khabre (which means special news in Hindi).

Minister for Rural, Maritime Development and Disaster Management and General Secretary for the People’s Alliance, Sakiasi Ditoka had filed a complaint against Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum on the 22nd of December last year for allegedly inciting racial hatred and violence in view of his public statements at a press conference in Suva.

In that press conference, Sayed-Khaiyum had claimed of stoning incidents highlighted by the Police and said that this demonstrates the divisive character of the People’s Alliance Leader Sitiveni Rabuka.

When questioned, Sayed-Khaiyum had further claimed on that day that they had received reports of some incidents.

We have been awaiting the full details from Police on the reported stoning incidents and Sayed-Khaiyum’s claims of bus drivers getting assaulted during that period.

Deputy Prime Minister and National Federation Party Leader, Professor Biman Prasad had said at the time that Sayed-Khaiyum has tried to create the situation that there is some kind of crisis in the country and by doing that, he is damaging the economy, the confidence of the people and the business in this country.

He said the police must investigate him.

Rabuka said at the time that the verbal attacks on him by Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum were personal and he will follow whatever legal recourse he has to exercise his right as a citizen of this country.

There is a further complaint filed by Acting Supervisor of Elections, Ana Mataiciwa against former Supervisor of Elections, Mohammed Saneem and Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, with the Fiji Police Force on allegations of bribery, receiving a corrupting benefit and abuse of office.

These relate to Saneem’s remuneration allegedly being reviewed and approved after one and a half years had lapsed in his new contract.

The FEO says the amendments to Saneem’s contract included salary increment which included back dating it to preceding one and a half years, government agreeing to pay his tax due on the back pay, payment of election readiness and post election bonus, and Saneem’s family relocation overseas and costs associated with travel and accommodation paid by the FEO for 3 months prior to elections.

The FEO says these benefits given to Saneem through remunerations and allowances were paid out to him during the campaign period of the 2022 general elections.

Police confirm they have received the complaint and investigations continue.