The Director of Public Prosecutions is frustrating the court process by making last-minute applications on the eve of the trial of former attorney-general and former supervisor of elections, Magistrate Yogesh Prasad said.
He made the remarks after Acting DPP Nancy Tikoisuva made an application yesterday for the substantive case to be transferred to the High Court.
The magistrate said he was surprised by the application, given that the trial commences on May 26. This trial date however, has been vacated after consultations between the parties and the court.
Mr Sharma informed the court the two men were maintaining that they be tried in the lower court.
He is opposing the application to transfer the matter and sought time to file affidavits and submissions in reply to the State’s application.
Former A-G Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum is charged with one count of abuse of office.
Former supervisor of elections Mohammed Saneem is charged with one count of receiving a corrupt benefit by obtaining deductible relief amounting to $55,944.03 as back-pay from Mr Sayed-Khaiyum in his capacity as then attorney general.
Mr Prasad has directed the defence to file their affidavit by May 26 and the State to file its reply by May 28.
The hearing on the motion will proceed on May 28.
