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 conditions on Friday after appearing before Magistrate Semi Babitu at the Nadi Magistrates Court. They face multiple charges stemming from activities between 2018 and 2023.
Sayed-Khaiyum is facing a total of 44 charges, which include 11 counts of unlawful carriage of a firearm on an aircraft, 11 counts of receiving a corrupt benefit, 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 related to the breach of mandatory reporting of security occurrences and three counts of violating airline security regulations.
These charges are brought under the Civil Aviation (Security) Act 1994, Civil Aviation (Security) Regulations 1994, and Crimes Act 2009. The state was represented by Acting Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Laisani Tabuakuro and Director of Public Prosecutions John Rabuku, while Sayed-Khaiyum and Voss were represented by lawyer Gul Fatima, and Ali was represented by lawyer Wasu Pillay.
During the bail hearing, Tabuakuro indicated that the prosecution did not oppose bail but called for stricter conditions, suggesting a substantial cash bail bond of $50,000 due to the serious nature of the charges. Defense lawyers argued that the cash bail was excessive and proposed non-cash bail alternatives, noting that their clients were not flight risks and that the investigation had been ongoing for over a year.
Magistrate Babitu ultimately set bail conditions requiring the accused to surrender their passports, adhere to a stop departure order, and refrain from contacting prosecution witnesses, many of whom are from Fiji Airways. Sayed-Khaiyum’s passport is currently held by the Suva Magistrates Court. The court established a non-cash bail bond of $10,000, with each accused required to provide two sureties subject to the same conditions. The case is scheduled to be reviewed at the Nadi Magistrates Court on November 14.