Former Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum and former Supervisor of Elections Mohammed Saneem are awaiting a significant ruling from the High Court, which is set to deliver its judgment today. The trial is overseen by Chief Justice Salesi Temo.
Sayed-Khaiyum faces a charge of abuse of office, while Saneem is accused of unlawfully receiving a corrupt benefit exceeding $55,000 related to tax relief on his back pay. Both individuals are represented by Senior Defence Counsel Devanesh Sharma and lawyer Gul Fatima.
Acting Director of Public Prosecutions Nancy Tikoisuva leads the prosecution, with Ana Mataiciwa serving as the complainant in the case. The allegations against Sayed-Khaiyum state that he, while serving as the Acting Prime Minister between June 30th and July 12th in 2022, signed a Deed of Variation and Addendum that enabled the government to pay Saneem’s taxes without the necessary approval from the Constitutional Offices Commission or the President of Fiji.
For Saneem, the charges assert that during his tenure as Supervisor of Elections, he sought and obtained a tax waiver of more than $55,000, which lacked lawful authority and reasonable justification. The outcome of this case may have significant implications for both individuals and the broader context of government integrity and accountability in Fiji.
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