Elections office official rejects claims of backstabbing Saneem

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Director Corporate Services FEO Sanjeshwar Ram (left) and Supervisor of Election Ana Mataiciwa at the High Court in Suva on September 17. Picture : ANDREW NAIDU

Sanjeswar Ram, the Director of Corporate Services for the Fiji Elections Office, has rejected accusations of backstabbing or harbouring any resentment against former Supervisor of Elections Mohammed Saneem in relation to his three-week suspension.

Defence lawyer Devanesh Sharma put to Mr Ram that, following his own three-year suspension connected to Mpaisa misappropriation, he met with the Supervisor of Elections Ana Mataiciwa about Mr Saneem regarding a tax reimbursement matter of $55,000, with the intention of ensuring Mr Saneem does not return to office. However, he strongly denies this.

He will resume his testimony at 2:30 PM before Chief Justice Salesi Temo during the ongoing trial of Mr Saneem and former Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum.