Former Attorney General and Minister for Civil Aviation Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, along with former Executive General of Corporate Affairs at Fiji Airways Shaenaz Voss and General Manager of Safety, Security, and Quality Sharun Ali, were released under strict bail conditions on Friday. The trio appeared before Magistrate Semi Babitu at the Nadi Magistrates Court, facing multiple charges dating from 2018 to 2023.
During the court proceedings, it was revealed that Mr. Sayed-Khaiyum faces a total of 44 charges, which include 11 counts of unlawful carriage of firearms on an aircraft, 11 counts of receiving a corrupt benefit, and 11 counts each of breach of trust and abuse of office related to his public service role. Ms. Voss is charged with three counts of giving a corrupt benefit, while Mr. Ali faces 11 counts of the same offense.
Additionally, Ms. Voss, Mr. Ali, and Fiji Link have been charged with five counts of failing to report mandatory security occurrences and three counts related to breaches of airline security. The charges are levied under the Civil Aviation (Security) Act 1994, Civil Aviation (Security) Regulations 1994, and Crimes Act 2009.
Representatives of the state included Acting Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Laisani Tabuakuro and Director of Public Prosecutions John Rabuku. Defense attorney Gul Fatima represented Mr. Sayed-Khaiyum and Ms. Voss, while Mr. Ali was defended by lawyer Wasu Pillay.
Ms. Tabuakuro expressed that the prosecution did not oppose bail but requested stricter conditions, including a cash bail bond of $50,000 due to the severity of the allegations. The defense argued that this amount was excessive and proposed non-cash bail bonds as had been granted in other similar cases. Mr. Pillay assured the court that his client had no intention of fleeing, noting that the investigation had been ongoing for over a year.
In her remarks, Ms. Tabuakuro stated that the accused had treated the airline as their own over the past five years and urged the court to exercise discretion regarding the bail conditions. She requested six weeks for the matter to be revisited.
Magistrate Babitu approved the bail on conditions that the accused surrender their passports, comply with a stop departure order, and avoid any interaction with prosecution witnesses, many of whom are employed by Fiji Airways. Mr. Sayed-Khaiyum’s passport is currently held by the Suva Magistrates Court.
The court set a non-cash bail bond at $10,000, requiring each accused to provide two sureties that are also subject to the non-cash bail condition. The case is scheduled to be addressed again at the Nadi Magistrate Court on November 14.