FEO Financial Controller says Saneem was very upset about the amount of tax deducted

Fijian Elections Office's Financial Controller Romika Sewak says former Supervisor of Elections Mohammed Saneem was very upset about his tax deduction and had repeatedly asked her why $55,000 was deducted.

Sewak was the third prosecution witness in the trial where Saneem and former Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum are facing abuse of office allegations.

Photo by: Timoci Dawai

She explained that the deduction was substantial because the backpay falls under a higher tax bracket.

The Financial Controller he even called her over the weekend to question about it.

Sewak testified that the back-pay period covered from the 15th of January, 2021 to the 30th of June, 2022.

According to Sewak, the backpay calculation came to $168,874.01, and Saneem asked her to immediately process the payment.

She informed him that payroll had already been processed and that it would be included in the next pay cycle, but he insisted it be processed immediately.

Sewak says that after all the deductions, Saneem received $114,492.74 outside the normal pay cycle.

Sewak says that on the 10th of July 2022, the then Supervisor of Elections asked her to return the first Deed of Variation to his contract to him because of amount of tax deducted.

She further says it didn’t sound right that the payment had been made but the contract was being asked for.

Regarding the tax reimbursement of $55,000, she says $53,000 was paid to his HFC Bank account and $2,000 to his M-PAiSA account.

She told the court it was unusual for an employee to personally receive a tax refund.

The cross-examination of Sewak will start tomorrow morning.

Sayed-Khaiyum and Saneem are charged with abuse of office and receiving a corrupt benefit, respectively, in 2022.

It is alleged that 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.