STATE prosecutors and the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) were working together to confirm Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum’s physical state when officers attempted to visit the former attorney-general at the Aspen Medical Lautoka Hospital on two occasions this week.
Confirming the visits, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions said they were aimed at verifying a medical report and letter submitted by Mr Sayed-Khaiyum seeking to travel overseas for “urgent medical treatment”.
“On Wednesday, ODPP received a letter and affidavit from Riyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, attaching the latest medical report from Aspen Lautoka Hospital, requesting urgent medical treatment in Singapore,” the ODPP statement said.
“In response, ODPP is doing its due diligence and working very closely with the police to verify the latest medical report over the weekend and is attempting to see him to confirm if his physical state aligns with the medical report.
“The ODPP office is working closely with the investigation officers in preparation for the urgent matter on Monday (August 4).”
Acting Assistant Police Commissioner/Crime Loraini Seru also confirmed their officers were at the hospital to see Mr Sayed-Khaiyum.
“It is all part of our continued investigation into the bail variation application by Mr Sayed-Khaiyum which is before the High Court,” said Ms Seru.
When asked whether the officers were allowed to visit Mr Sayed-Khaiyum, Ms Seru said the investigators were assisted by hospital staff.
“The officers were accommodated and assisted well by the hospital,” she said.
In an email response to this newspaper, Aspen Medical refused to give any detail about the visits.
“Patient confidentiality is of the utmost importance to us. We will not be discussing the details of any patient at any Aspen Medical-managed hospital,” the hospital said.
The officers’ presence at the hospital sparked concern from Mr Sayed-Khaiyum’s lawyer Gul Fatima.
She said she had received his medical report from Aspen Medical Lautoka on Tuesday, July 29, which they filed at the Court Registry alongside his brother Riyaz Sayed-Khaiyum’s affidavit.
“We have requested the registry to call the matter urgently as the team of doctors who have assessed Mr Sayed-Khaiyum have recommended urgent medical assessments for his cardiac condition which cannot be performed and are not available locally, and neurological condition,” she said.
“In response, we were informed by the registry (on Thursday) that this matter will be called on Monday, August 4, as it has been adjourned from August 1 which is when it was scheduled to be mentioned when we last appeared on July 16.”
She said they were informed by the registry that Chief Justice Salesi Temo was travelling.
“We have requested for this matter to be called urgently as we fear, based on the recommendations of the doctors, that our client could suffer another medical episode, a stroke or cardiac event which could be fatal.
“We are also informed by family members that CID officers had arrived at the hospital on Tuesday evening wanting to see Mr Sayed-Khaiyum and were at the hospital again (on Thursday).
“Despite our efforts, the registry has relayed the honourable CJ’s directives which are for the parties to file their papers (which we had on July 29) and for this matter to be called on Monday, August for general review.”
She added they were concerned about the former A-G’s right to life and health.
“Mr Sayed-Khaiyum has suffered from a stroke and ischaemic heart disease, and his cardiology related issues are consistent with the earlier medical evidence that we had presented in three previous applications between June, 2024, and May, 2025, and all of which were declined.
“We are concerned about Mr Sayed-Khaiyum’s constitutional right to life, health and his three young children and wife, Ela.”
