DPP wants Sayed-Khaiyum and Saneem matter to be transferred to High Court

The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions is seeking to have the abuse of office case against former Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum and the corrupt benefit matter involving former Supervisor of Elections Mohammed Saneem, transferred to the High Court.

Both appeared before Magistrate Yogesh Prasad this afternoon.

The State says the abuse of office matter is constitutional and they want the High Court to deal with this.

They said that they will file their transfer application this afternoon.

Sayed-Khaiyum is charged with one count of abuse of office while Mohammed Saneem is charged with one count of receiving a corrupt benefit.

It is alleged that Sayed-Khaiyum between June 30th and July 12th in 2022, while being the Acting Prime Minister, signed a Deed of Variation and Addendum between the Government and the then Supervisor of Elections, Saneem.

It is alleged that the approval for the government to pay the taxes of Saneem was done without the proper approval of the Constitutional Offices Commission and the President.

It is alleged that between the 1st of June 2022 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. The matter is adjourned to the 20th of May.

Magistrate Prasad says it is important for Sayed-Khaiyum and Saneem to be present on the next date, so they are fully informed about the proceedings.

Meanwhile, High Court Judge, Justice Daniel Goundar had declined a review of Sayed-Khaiyum’s bail conditions, as the judge said that he is not convinced that Sayed-Khaiyum’s condition is severe enough to prevent him from participating in his trial on the 26th of May.

Justice Goundar says Sayed-Khaiyum has not been hospitalized due to his medical conditions and continues to practice law and manage his law firm.

The judge says given the trial’s proximity, it is not in the interest of justice to allow Sayed-Khaiyum to travel overseas at this time.

Sayed-Khaiyum’s trial is scheduled to be held from May 26th to 30th this year in the Magistrates Court and the status quo should remain unchanged.