Judgment in the high-profile case involving former attorney-general Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum and former Supervisor of Elections Mohammed Saneem has been adjourned to June 26.
The matter was scheduled before Chief Justice Salesi Temo at 10.30am today in High Court Room No.1 in Suva.
Justice Temo said he has all the evidence and is now “putting pen to paper”.
The case centres on allegations that an unauthorised tax benefit was granted to Mr Saneem in 2022.
Mr Sayed-Khaiyum faces one count of abuse of office. The State alleges that while acting as Prime Minister, he approved a Deed of Variation authorising Government to pay about $55,944 in back taxes owed by Mr Saneem.
Mr Saneem is charged with receiving a corrupt benefit, with prosecutors alleging he sought and obtained the tax relief without lawful authority.
The prosecution has argued the agreement was a “replacement deed” designed to bypass constitutional oversight processes involving the Constitutional Offices Commission and the President.
However, defence lawyers maintain the payment was a lawful reimbursement of withheld earnings and argued the matter was employment-related rather than criminal in nature.
The case has attracted significant public attention because of the senior public positions previously held by both accused.
Mr Sayed-Khaiyum and Mr Saneem are represented by R. Patel Lawyers, while the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions is leading the prosecution.
