Resident Magistrate Joji Boseiwaqa has made a reluctant ruling on former Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum’s request to consolidate charges against him and former Supervisor of Elections, Mohammed Saneem. The magistrate stated that he could not consider arguments from both the Defence and the State since the case is currently before Magistrate Yogesh Prasad.
Both individuals were present in court, although Sayed-Khaiyum has been excused from the upcoming court session scheduled for Tuesday. He is facing a single count of abuse of office related to a report made by Supervisor of Elections Ana Mataiciwa. The allegations state that between June 30 and July 12, 2022, while serving as Acting Prime Minister, Sayed-Khaiyum signed a Deed of Variation and Addendum involving the Government and Saneem.
The charge suggests that the approval for the Government to cover Saneem’s taxes was executed without the proper consent from both the Constitutional Offices Commission and the President.
On the other hand, Saneem has been charged with one count of Receiving a Corrupt Benefit. It is alleged that, while serving as Supervisor of Elections between June 1 and July 31, 2022, Saneem solicited and received a benefit without lawful authority, which included approval for over $50,000 in deductible tax relief on his back pay from a senior Government official.