Former Attorney General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum and former Supervisor of Elections, Mohammed Saneem will take their plea on the charges of abuse of office and corrupt benefit respectively, on July 16th.
This matter was called today for the first mention in the Suva High Court before Chief Justice Salesi Temo.
The Chief Justice asked the State counsel, Nancy Tikoisuva what evidence will they present to which she said that they had documentary evidence such as the SOE’s contract, payment details from the SOE’s Office, FRCS reimbursement document, oral evidence from the SOE and Attorney General’s Office and the caution interview.
Tikoisuva informed the court that the caution interview had not been challenged.
She says they have 24 witnesses.
Defence counsel, Devanesh Sharma says Sayed-Khaiyum and Saneem were never charged together and charges were consolidated when the DPP made an application to jointly charge them.
Sharma says the definition of public service is still unclear and they have to deal with this issue.
Chief Justice Temo reminded both counsels that cutting delays is very important because this matter has been in the Suva Magistrates Court for almost two years.
He says High Court cases end in Supreme Court and he wants to bring this case to an end with quality.
It is alleged that Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum between June 30th and July 12th in 2022, whilst being the Acting Prime Minister, signed a Deed of Variation and Addendum between the Government and the then Supervisor of Elections, Mohammed Saneem and that the approval for the government to pay the taxes of Mohammed Saneem was done without the proper approval of the Constitutional Offices Commission and the President of Fiji.
It is alleged that between the 1st of June 2022 and the 31st of July 2022, while being employed as the Supervisor of Elections, Mohammed Saneem without lawful authority and reasonable excuse, asked for and obtained a benefit for himself, that is the approval and payment/waiver of tax of more than $55,000 that was charged on his back pay as a Supervisor of Elections.
The Chief Justice has fixed the matter for trial from the 15th of September to the 3rd of October 2025.
The matter has been adjourned to 16th July 2025 for plea, bail variation hearing and any pre-trial issues.
Bail has been extended for both accused persons.
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