Sayed-Khaiyum says he was told he was handcuffed for his own safety

Former Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says the reason he was given for being handcuffed last night to be taken from CID Headquarters to Totogo Police Station was that it was for his own safety, so obviously he took the word of the Police and was handcuffed.

While speaking to the media after appearing in court for a charge of abuse of office, he says the police conducting the interviews that he was called in for over a month have been very courteous and professional.

Sayed-Khaiyum alleges he understands some of them are under a lot of political pressure.

He claims they get told certain things and that is the direction that they have to take.

He also says this is actually a political witch-hunt and they are seeing it repeatedly.

Sayed-Khaiyum says there are also a number of paradoxes where the suspended DPP being reprimanded and summoned by the Attorney General to explain why he was talking to Sayed-Khaiyum at a cocktail party where dozens of people were around yet there is the Minister of Home Affairs seeming to have a one-on-one discussion with a suspect that was listed by the suspended DPP.

He says there seems to be a lot of contradictions about what is happening.

Chief of Intelligence and Investigations, ACP Sakeo Raikaci has maintained the investigation team is given full autonomy to conduct their investigation and report directly to his office as the Chief of Intelligence and Investigations and do not take directions from anyone else within or outside the organization.

Meanwhile, Attorney General Siromi Turaga had earlier said the suspended DPP allegedly had the conversation with Sayed-Khaiyum when files concerning Voreqe Bainimarama, Sitiveni Qiliho and Sayed-Khaiyum were with the DPP.

He said this is an alleged act of misconduct or misbehaviour.

The Attorney General says he had summoned suspended DPP Christopher Pryde to explain, and at first instance, Pryde was defensive but he later allegedly admitted his mistake.

Turaga says Pryde will be subject of a fair hearing before a Tribunal as required under the Constitution when there is an alleged misconduct or misbehaviour.

Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka has stressed there is no political witch-hunt.