Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum takes the stand in abuse of office trial

Former Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum and former Supervisor of Elections Mohammed Saneem will take the stand in their abuse of office trial.

Sayed-Khaiyum and Saneem's counsel Devanesh Sharma confirmed this today and Sayed-Khaiyum will take the stand first.

Chief Justice Salesi Temo had ruled yesterday that they have a case to answer.

Sayed-Khaiyum is charged with abuse of office, while Saneem is charged with receiving a corrupt benefit, both in relation to alleged offences committed 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 also 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.