Supervisor of Elections Ana Mataiciwa recently testified in court, expressing that she had not seen a pivotal letter from the Constitutional Offices Commission (COC), which allegedly indicated that a salary of $350,000, along with bonuses, had been sanctioned for her predecessor, Mohammed Saneem. Saneem faces charges related to receiving a corrupt benefit, specifically deductible tax relief amounting to $55,944.03 from the State.
During the proceedings, Saneem’s lawyer, Devanesh Sharma, highlighted that on June 10, 2022, the COC had appointed an independent committee to assess Saneem’s salary recommendation of approximately $300,000, alongside a proposed two percent gross increase. A subsequent letter from June 30, 2022, reportedly from COC Secretary Preetika Prasad, supposedly confirmed the approval of Saneem’s $350,000 salary with bonuses.
Mataiciwa, while testifying before Chief Justice Temo, noted that she incurred a tax penalty due to the delay in her acting allowance, a situation she deemed unfair and pertinent to the arguments against Saneem. She indicated that had critical documents related to the misuse of funds allegations been available in 2023 before lodging a police complaint, she would have sought clarification from then-attorney-general Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum and Saneem.
The timeline around Mataiciwa’s police complaint begins in January 2023, during her time as the manager of Legal at the Fiji Elections Office. Her decision to involve the police, instead of the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) as dictated by the Electoral Act, stemmed from a lack of confidence in FICAC, due to previous complaints that had reportedly gone unacknowledged.
Further complications in the case arise from the details provided in Saneem’s employment contract and the deeds of variation found in his personal file. These documents were the basis for Mataiciwa’s police complaint against Sayed-Khaiyum and Saneem, officially filed on February 13, after engaging with the acting manager Legal, Mesake Dawai.
The trial, which continues, showcases the multitudes of governance, accountability, and procedural transparency issues within the Fijian context. Both Saneem and former Attorney-General Sayed-Khaiyum face critical charges that question their administrative ethics and integrity, underlining significant concerns about the conduct of public officials in Fiji.
This case stands as a potential turning point for reinforcing ethical governance practices and restoring public trust in Fiji’s institutional frameworks. It highlights the necessity of transparency, accountability, and ethical conduct in maintaining the integrity and trust of public offices.
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