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 Fiji Airways General Manager of Safety, Security, and Quality, Sharun Ali, were granted strict bail on Friday. They appeared before Magistrate Semi Babitu at the Nadi Magistrates Court, facing several charges arising from incidents that took place between 2018 and 2023.
Sayed-Khaiyum faces a total of 44 charges, including 11 counts of unlawful carriage of a firearm on an aircraft, 11 counts of receiving corrupt benefits, 11 counts of breach of trust by a public servant, and 11 counts of abuse of office. Voss is charged with three counts of giving a corrupt benefit, while Ali faces 11 counts of the same charge. Additionally, Voss, Ali, and Fiji Link are charged with five counts of failing to report mandatory security occurrences and three counts of breaching airline security protocols.
The charges are brought under the Civil Aviation (Security) Act 1994, the Civil Aviation (Security) Regulations 1994, and the Crimes Act 2009. The state was represented by Acting Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Laisani Tabuakuro and Director of Public Prosecutions John Rabuku. The defense for Sayed-Khaiyum and Voss was handled by lawyer Gul Fatima, while Ali was represented by lawyer Wasu Pillay.
During the proceedings, Tabuakuro indicated that the prosecution did not oppose bail but requested a substantial cash bail bond of $50,000 due to the seriousness of the charges. The defense argued that this amount was excessive and suggested non-cash bail bonds, as previously allowed in similar cases. Pillay assured the court that his client had no intention of fleeing, noting that the investigation had been ongoing for over a year.
Tabuakuro countered that the accused had treated the airline as their own for five years and requested the court to exercise caution regarding non-cash bail bonds, proposing a six-week period for the matter to be revisited.
Magistrate Babitu set conditions for bail, which include the surrender of passports, adherence to a stop departure order, and a prohibition against interfering with prosecution witnesses, many of whom are employees of Fiji Airways. The court noted that Sayed-Khaiyum’s passport is currently held by the Suva Magistrates Court.
A non-cash bail bond of $10,000 was granted, and each accused is required to provide two sureties also subject to the bail conditions. The case is scheduled to be called again in the Nadi Magistrates Court on November 14.