Trial date vacated for Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum and Saneem

The trial date for former Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum and former Supervisor of Elections Mohammed Saneem has been vacated.

Magistrate Yogesh Prasad mentioned that he is frustrated that the State is making a last minute application just days before the trial.

This is after the Acting Director of Public Prosecutions, Nancy Tikoisuva made an application to transfer the substantive matter to the High Court.

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

The initial date for the trial was scheduled from May 26th to 30th this year.

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 28th of May.