Former attorney-general Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum’s application for variation of his bail conditions to travel overseas for medical treatment has been withdrawn.
Yesterday defence lawyer Devanesh Sharma said he was looking at other possible options under the Bail Act for his client who appeared before Suva Magistrate Yogesh Prasad on an abuse of office charge.
It’s alleged that while acting as prime minister two years ago, Mr Sayed-Khaiyum signed a Deed of Variation and Addendum between the then FijiFirst government and former supervisor of elections Mohammed Saneem, in which he approved a payment to Mr Saneem without the proper approval of the Constitutional Offices Commission.
On June 19 this year, Mr Prasad denied the former A-G’s variation of bail on the grounds there was no evidence of Mr Sayed-Khaiyum undergoing a medical emergency.
Mr Saneem will appear alongside Mr Sayed-Khaiyum for a ruling on a consolidation of charges next Tuesday.
The DPP will also be responding to two motions raised by Mr Sharma on the last occasion, namely claims that former acting DPP John Rabuku’s sanctions were a nullity and breached Mr Saneem’s human rights.
Mr Saneem is accused of receiving a corrupt benefit through the receipt of deductible relief in the sum of $55,944.03 for his back pay from Mr Sayed-Khaiyum.
The case has been adjourned to August 20.
