The court hearing regarding the abuse of office charge against former Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum has been postponed. The session was meant to address the State prosecution’s response to the defense’s inquiry about the charge authorized by former Acting Director of Public Prosecutions John Rabuku.
The adjournment occurred because all magistrates are attending a conference in Suva this week. The case has been rescheduled for next Tuesday at the Suva Magistrate’s Court, presided over by Magistrate Yogesh Prasad. In the meantime, the prosecution’s motion to combine the cases for both individuals will be on hold until the hearing takes place.
Additionally, Sayed-Khaiyum has been excused from attending the next court session. Magistrate Joji Boseiwaqa accepted this request while deliberating on the abuse of office case involving Sayed-Khaiyum and former Supervisor of Elections, Mohammed Saneem. Sayed-Khaiyum faces a single charge of abuse of office for allegedly signing a Deed of Variation and Addendum between the Government of Fiji and Saneem. Following this action, Saneem has been charged with receiving a corrupt benefit of $55,944.03 related to his back-pay from Sayed-Khaiyum.
Defense attorney Devanesh Sharma requested that Sayed-Khaiyum be excused from court due to health reasons, and the court granted this request, meaning only Saneem will appear at the upcoming hearing.