Resident Magistrate Joji Boseiwaqa has made a reluctant ruling on the application of former Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum regarding the consolidation of charges against him and former Supervisor of Elections, Mohammed Saneem. Magistrate Boseiwaqa stated that he could not hear the arguments from both the Defense and the State as the case is currently under the jurisdiction of Magistrate Yogesh Prasad.
Both accused individuals were present in court; however, Sayed-Khaiyum has been excused from the upcoming session scheduled for Tuesday. He faces one count of abuse of office linked to a report filed by the Supervisor of Elections, Ana Mataiciwa.
The allegation against Sayed-Khaiyum highlights that between June 30 and July 12, 2022, while serving as Acting Prime Minister, he signed a Deed of Variation and Addendum between the Government and then Supervisor of Elections, Mohammed Saneem. It is claimed that this action facilitated the Government’s payment of Saneem’s taxes without the necessary approval from the Constitutional Offices Commission and the President.
Meanwhile, Saneem is charged with one count of Receiving a Corrupt Benefit. The charges allege that, during his tenure as Supervisor of Elections, Saneem unlawfully requested and received a benefit exceeding $50,000 in tax relief on his back pay from a senior Government official between June 1 and July 31, 2022.