Riyaz Sayed Khaiyum, former chief of the Fiji Broadcasting Corporation (FBC), and the current chief financial officer, Vimlesh Sagar, had their pleas regarding multiple charges deferred to December 3. The two appeared before acting Chief Magistrate Josaia Waqaivolavola, where Prosecutor Nimisha Shankar stated that due to the nature of the indictable offences, an election has not yet been made for Sayed-Khaiyum.
Sayed-Khaiyum faces charges of abuse of office and general dishonesty leading to a financial loss for FBC. He is accused of bypassing the tender process as outlined in FBC’s finance manual when he purchased a Volkswagen Touareg for $207,240, which allegedly resulted in a total loss of $84,470 for the company. These incidents are said to have occurred between September 1 and November 11, two years ago.
Sagar is charged with general dishonesty for approving the payments related to this vehicle purchase. In a separate case, both men appeared before Magistrate Krishan Prasad where Sayed-Khaiyum faces additional charges, including abuse of office for personal gain and general dishonesty, related to pursuing five legal actions that incurred costs of $138,813.37 without the knowledge of the FBC board. These incidents reportedly happened between July 1, 2017, and January 31 of last year.
This situation highlights ongoing legal issues within the Fijian media landscape and the importance of transparency in public office. While the outcomes of these cases remain to be seen, they underline the necessity for accountability and ethical governance in corporate institutions.
It is hopeful that these proceedings will lead to reinforced standards of integrity and operational transparency within organizations, enhancing public trust.
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