Former Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, along with former Fiji Airways Corporate Affairs executive Shaenaz Voss, Fiji Airways Safety, Security and Quality General Manager Sharun Ali, and representatives from Fiji Airlines T/A Fiji Link, are facing a combined total of 66 charges approved by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). They have been granted a non-cash bail of $10,000 by the Magistrate’s Court in Nadi.
Magistrate Semi Babitu stipulated bail conditions requiring the accused to surrender their passports, provide two sureties, comply with stop-departure orders, and refrain from contacting prosecution witnesses.
Sayed-Khaiyum is facing serious charges, including 11 counts of unlawful carriage of a firearm on an aircraft, 11 counts of receiving a corrupt benefit, 11 counts of breach of trust for public servants, and 11 counts of abuse of office.
Voss has been charged with three counts related to giving a corrupt benefit, while Ali faces 11 similar counts. Moreover, Voss, Ali, and Fiji Airlines T/A Fiji Link have been charged with five counts concerning breach of mandatory reporting of security occurrences and three counts of breaching airline security regulations.
The charges against the accused are based on the Civil Aviation (Security) Act 1994, the Civil Aviation (Security) Regulations 1994, and the Crimes Act 2009.
Acting Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Laisani Tabuakuro did not oppose the bail but suggested a cash bail bond of $50,000, asked for stop-departure orders to be enforced on the trio, and emphasized the need for Ali to maintain distance from prosecution witnesses due to his ongoing employment with Fiji Airways, where many witnesses are directly under his supervision.
Tabuakuro has requested six weeks to provide the second phase of disclosures regarding the case. The court will reconvene on November 14 to continue addressing the charges.