Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism Viliame Gavoka says his son-in-law, former attorney-general Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, is recovering well after travelling to Singapore for medical treatment.
Speaking on The Fiji Times’ online platform, The Lens@177 on Wednesday, Mr Gavoka said his daughter, Mr Sayed-Khaiyum’s wife, was keeping him updated on her husband’s state.
“Yes, I’m aware of the situation, he has come through OK,” Mr Gavoka said.
“Our daughter is the one who keeps us updated. My wife is the one who really stays very close to that.
“My daughter is a very strong-willed person. She’s very strong, she’s looking after the family while he’s away.”
In September, Mr Sayed-Khaiyum was given approval to travel to Singapore for medical review and then to Australia for a client conference.
He failed to appear when his case was called at the Suva Magistrate’s Court on October 27 where he was to have surrendered his passport to the court’s criminal registry.
While adjourning the case to November 16, magistrate Waleen George said if Mr Sayed-Khaiyum failed to return home from overseas by mid-January next year, the court would take alternative measures to ensure he did.
Mr Sayed-Khaiyum is charged with one count of abuse of office while acting as prime minister in the previous government.
“He’s OK and it took a little longer than expected but he’s OK and I just wish people gave him his space.
“I get a bit saddened when people are still bringing up a lot of old issues and being very personal about things.
“I just wish that we could become mature as a nation, and we deal with our own issues and leave personal things aside.”
