Resident Magistrate Joji Boseiwaqa expressed reluctance in addressing the application by former Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum to consolidate the charges against him and former Supervisor of Elections Mohammed Saneem. Magistrate Boseiwaqa stated that he is unable to consider the arguments from both the Defense and the State as the case is currently with Magistrate Yogesh Prasad.
Both defendants were present in court, but Sayed-Khaiyum has been excused from the next session scheduled for Tuesday. He faces a charge of abuse of office, which relates to a report filed by Supervisor of Elections Ana Mataiciwa. The allegations claim that during his tenure as Acting Prime Minister between June 30 and July 12, 2022, Sayed-Khaiyum signed a Deed of Variation and Addendum involving the government and Saneem. This agreement allegedly allowed the government to pay taxes on Saneem’s behalf without the necessary approvals from the Constitutional Offices Commission and the President.
Saneem is charged with receiving a corrupt benefit, with accusations stating that between June 1 and July 31, 2022, while serving as Supervisor of Elections, he unlawfully requested and gained a benefit exceeding $50,000 in deductible tax relief from a senior government official regarding his back pay.