Former Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum and former Supervisor of Elections Mohammed Saneem are set to address consolidated charges of abuse of office and receiving corrupt benefits in court this Friday. The pair appeared before Resident Magistrate Yogesh Prasad earlier today.
Sayed-Khaiyum faces a charge of abusing his position, specifically for allegedly signing a Deed of Variation and Addendum that involved the government covering tax payments for Saneem without proper authorization from the Constitutional Offices Commission and the President. This action reportedly took place between June 30 and July 12, 2022, when Sayed-Khaiyum was Acting Prime Minister.
Saneem, on the other hand, is charged with soliciting and receiving over $50,000 in tax relief on his back-pay from June 1 to July 31, 2022, without lawful authority. The benefits he sought were also purportedly granted without appropriate approval from relevant authorities.
The court has tentatively scheduled the trial to take place from May 26 to May 30 next year.
This case represents a significant moment in addressing allegations of misconduct among high-ranking officials, and its resolution could promote greater accountability in public service. The legal proceedings are being closely watched, with potential implications for governance standards in the region.
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