Interim Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum has clarified that former prisoner Savenaca Seniloli was released after serving 6 years following the automatic one third remission a prisoner is entitled to under the Prison Act.
Sayed-Khaiyum said he was sentenced and jailed for 9 years for manslaughter and robbery with violence on September 2001.
He said Seniloli was at no time even considered for a presidential pardon through the recommendation of the Prerogative Mercy Commission as stated in the local dailies nor does he qualify to be considered by the prerogative mercy commission.
Sayed-Khaiyum added that Seniloli was not released on extra mural punishment or Compulsory supervision order as reported in one of the dailies.
Meanwhile, interim Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum came under the spotlight again during the Annual Prosecutors conference in Sigatoka today for not allowing the visit of members of the International Bar Association (IBA).
Director of Public Prosecution of New South Wales and past president of International Association of Prosecutors Nicholas Cowdery said Saiyed Khaiyum undermined the rule of law for not allowing IBA into the country.
He said action of Sayed-Khaiyum paints a bad picture of the interim government.
Cowdery said the IBA did not have any agenda or motive when visiting the country to assess the rule of law.
He said the IBA will assess the rule of law in Fiji through other means.
