The former Supervisor of Elections, Mohammed Saneem, recently testified in court, alleging that his rights were infringed upon during his arrest and subsequent remand earlier this year. Saneem appeared at the Suva Magistrate’s Court before Magistrate Yogesh Prasad as part of the hearing related to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions’ (ODPP) move to consolidate charges against him and former Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum. Additionally, Saneem is pushing for the charges against him to be dismissed on the grounds of rights violations.
Saneem asserted that between March 8 and March 11, his human rights were breached during his arrest. He faces allegations of unlawfully soliciting over $50,000 in deductible tax relief during his tenure as Supervisor of Elections from June to July 2022, which he purportedly received for personal gain from a senior government official.
During his testimony, Saneem detailed his surprising arrest on March 8 when two police officers, posing as clients needing legal assistance at his law firm, took him into custody instead. He recounted his frustrations when, despite attempting to secure a temporary lawyer due to his preferred counsel’s unavailability, he was ordered to be charged that same day after 4 PM, with no formal explanation about the reasons for his detention. Saneem claimed the police merely cited “orders from above,” which added to his distress as he remained in custody for three days without proper court oversight.
The conditions of his confinement at Totogo Police Station added to the stress he experienced, compounded by the weight of having overseen three elections prior to this incident. His testimony highlighted his challenging situation and the perceived inhumane treatment he received during his remand.
In an additional turn of events, Saneem faced questions concerning allegations of undue influence related to a FijiFirst party banner’s presence at a public venue. He countered these claims by presenting a letter from Mukesh Chand, the previous chair of the Electoral Commission, confirming Saneem’s actions to have the banner removed, which underscored his dedication to impartiality.
Co-defendant Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum is also facing charges related to abuse of office, accused of improperly authorizing a payment that benefitted Saneem without the required approvals during his time as Acting Prime Minister. The case is set to continue with a ruling scheduled for December 17.
This situation underlines the complexities of accountability in public office while raising significant questions about the legal processes surrounding such high-profile cases. As the legal proceedings unfold, they demonstrate the importance of transparency and fairness in upholding justice. The hopeful aspect is that the judicial process may result in a thorough review that protects individual rights while ensuring that any misconduct is addressed appropriately.
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