The Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) has notified the Fijian Elections Office of the closure of three investigation files that were initiated in September 2023.
FICAC reported that preliminary inquiries were conducted regarding complaints against the FijiFirst Party, focused on several allegations.
One allegation involved claims of corrupt practices related to FijiFirst Party’s false declarations, particularly concerning the Fiji First Australia Association Incorporated, associated with Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum and Tito Bainimarama. The investigation revealed that the list of donations submitted by FijiFirst for the years 2015 to 2022 did not include any contributions from the Fiji First Australia Association, which is registered with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission. FICAC also sought additional documentation from Alexandra Forwood, the complainant, but was unable to obtain supporting evidence or specific dates related to the alleged corrupt activities.
Another line of inquiry examined the association of Tito Bainimarama with former FijiFirst Party leader Voreqe Bainimarama. Investigative findings indicated that there are no official records of Tito Bainimarama in the Births, Deaths & Marriages, Land Transport Authority, Immigration, or Fiji Revenue & Customs Authority databases, confirming that he is not linked to the former party leader as alleged.
Additionally, FICAC looked into complaints against Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum and Mohammed Saneem regarding collusion and conflicts of interest, as well as accusations against Ariff Ali for making a donation to FijiFirst while serving as a civil servant. Preliminary findings established that neither Sayed-Khaiyum nor Saneem are shareholders in Formscaff (Fiji) Pte Limited, and the awarding of contracts adhered to the Tender Process outlined by the Fijian Elections Office. The inquiry also confirmed that the tendering procedures followed by the Tender Board were appropriately executed in the case of Xiarch Solutions Pvt Ltd, which received a contract for the 2022 General Elections.
Lastly, a complaint involving His Excellency Ratu Wiliame Katonivere, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, and Charan Jeath Singh prompted FICAC to consult the Financial Intelligence Unit regarding their financial activities. The information obtained adequately disproved the allegations against them, and FICAC verified the assets and liabilities through the Financial Intelligence Unit’s report.
Based on the outcomes of these preliminary inquiries and subsequent legal opinions, FICAC concluded that there was insufficient evidence to support the claims made by the complainants, leading to the closure of the investigation files.