Former Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum and former Supervisor of Elections Mohammed Saneem were present in the Suva Magistrates Court this afternoon for a special court session.
The case against them, overseen by Magistrate Jioji Boseiwaqa, has been postponed until next Tuesday for the examination of two pending applications. The defendants have requested to combine their charges, and Saneem has filed a motion to dismiss the charge against him.
The hearing will take place under Magistrate Yogesh Prasad. Defense attorney Devanesh Sharma requested permission for Sayed-Khaiyum to be excused from next week’s hearing, to which Acting DPP Nancy Tikoisuva did not object, leading to Sayed-Khaiyum being excused from attendance.
Sayed-Khaiyum faces a charge of abuse of office, accused of allowing the government to pay taxes on behalf of Saneem without the necessary approval from the Constitutional Offices Commission and the President.
Saneem is charged with receiving a corrupt benefit, accused of soliciting and obtaining a corrupt benefit for personal gain while serving in his official capacity. It is alleged that between June 1 and July 31, 2022, Saneem unlawfully sought and received over $50,000 in deductible tax relief related to his back-pay from a senior government official.