Former FBC CEO Riyaz Sayed Khaiyum and FBC Chief Financial Officer Vimlesh Sagar appeared in the Suva Magistrates Court today. The court session was presided over by Magistrate Krishan Prasad.
FICAC Counsel Marry Takinana requested to serve the second phase disclosures by the end of business today, to which the defense counsels did not object. Sayed-Khaiyum is represented by Senior Counsel Devanesh Sharma and associate Gul Fatima, while Sagar is represented by lawyer Ritesh Singh.
Riyaz Sayed-Khaiyum faces two charges: one count of Abuse of Office and one count of General Dishonesty Causing a Loss. Vimlesh Sagar is charged with one count of General Dishonesty – Causing a Loss. The allegations against Sayed-Khaiyum state that between July 1, 2017, and January 31, 2023, he initiated five legal proceedings on behalf of FBCL without the approval of the FBCL Board of Directors, resulting in a loss of $138,813.37. It is further alleged that he pursued these cases despite knowing or risking a loss to FBCL.
Sagar is accused of causing a similar loss by approving payments to R Patel Lawyers without board approval from January 1, 2023, to December 31, 2023, which amounted to $15,075.88.
In a separate case, Sayed-Khaiyum is again charged with one count of Abuse of Office and one count of General Dishonesty – Causing a Loss, while Sagar faces one count of General Dishonesty – Causing a Loss. Principal State Counsel Lilliane Mausio has also requested disclosures to be filed by the end of business today.
This case involves allegations that from September 1, 2022, to November 11, 2022, Sayed-Khaiyum abused his office by circumventing the tender process to procure a Volkswagen Touareg for $207,470.00, causing a loss of $84,470.00 to FBCL. Similarly, Sagar is accused of approving payments related to this purchase, knowing the actions were not in FBCL’s interest.
Both cases have been adjourned until October 31 for plea.