Former supervisor of elections, Mohammed Saneem, testified in Suva Magistrate’s Court about the inhumane treatment he allegedly experienced while in police detention. During cross-examination by lawyer Devanesh Sharma, Saneem revealed that he was denied permission to attend his daughter’s birthday celebration at home.
Saneem is currently facing a charge related to receiving a corrupt benefit, specifically $55,944.03 in back pay, involving former attorney-general Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum. He is challenging the validity of these charges, which he claims were sanctioned by then-acting DPP John Rabuku, as violations of his fundamental human rights.
The proceedings also addressed the Electoral Act, which grants the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) the authority to investigate and prosecute allegations against Saneem. He recounted an incident from March 8 of the previous year, when a police officer, impersonating a client involved in a rape case, lured him into an arrest. Upon arrival at the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), Saneem was informed by officers that he would be detained on “orders from above,” presumably referring to DPP Rabuku.
Saneem expressed that he was not informed of the reasons for his detention and pleaded with the officers, in the presence of his attorney, to allow him to celebrate his daughter’s birthday at home. However, he claimed that the officers laughed at his request and denied it. He described his conditions in detention, stating that he was placed in a room with a drunken individual and later moved to a holding cell that had rodent feces, where a rat reportedly ran over him multiple times.
The former supervisor of elections reported suffering from panic attacks due to the police’s conduct, asserting that they infringed on his human rights. Saneem’s legal team previously submitted two letters to Rabuku concerning these issues but received limited responses. Both Sharma and acting DPP Nancy Tikoisuva have been granted a week to submit additional arguments, with a decision expected on December 17.
In a hopeful light, this case has shed light on the necessity for proper treatment in detention facilities and the importance of upholding human rights, potentially invoking future reforms in the justice system.
Summary: Mohammed Saneem testified in court about alleged inhumane treatment he faced during his detention by police, including being denied access to his daughter’s birthday. He is contesting corruption charges linked to former attorney-general Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum and claims fundamental human rights violations by law enforcement. A ruling on the matter is expected on December 17.
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