Former supervisor of elections Mohammed Saneem has initiated a civil lawsuit against Constitutional officeholders for failing to pay his remaining leave payout, totalling $54,443.71.
The defendants in this lawsuit include the President of the Republic of Fiji, the Prime Minister, the Constitutional Offices Commission, the Solicitor-General, and the Attorney-General.
According to the originating summons, Mr Saneem, who had a $350,000 salary, asserts that he was suspended with full pay following the change in government after the 2022 General Elections, and during this suspension, he submitted his resignation to the President, which was accepted the following year, “with immediate effect”.
Mr Saneem claims he was entitled to a leave payout of 48 days, which includes his annual leave and time-off-in-lieu, resulting in a final payout of $67,307 but received $12,863.86
Mr Saneem says he is still owed $54,443.71 without any unlawful deductions as stipulated in Article 136 (1) of the Constitution.
He wrote to the defendants in 2023 and again this year but the issue has not been addressed.
The matter was listed for first call before Justice Savenaca Banuve yesterday at the High Court in Suva.
The matter will be called again on September 29.