Former Attorney-General and former Supervisor of Elections have been found not guilty by Chief Justice in the Suva High Court, bringing an end to one of Fiji’s most closely watched corruption cases.
The pair had faced charges arising from a 2022 agreement that resulted in tax relief being granted on Saneem’s back pay entitlement.
Sayed-Khaiyum was charged with one count of abuse of office, while Saneem faced one count of receiving a corrupt benefit. If convicted, both men faced penalties that could have included lengthy prison terms.
The prosecution alleged that while serving as Acting Prime Minister between June 30 and July 12, 2022, Sayed-Khaiyum signed a Deed of Variation and Addendum with Saneem that effectively allowed the Government to cover tax liabilities amounting to $55,944.03. It was argued that the arrangement bypassed the Constitutional Offices Commission and the President.
Saneem was accused of requesting and accepting the tax relief without lawful authority.
However, the defence maintained throughout the proceedings that the arrangement was a lawful employment-related agreement and did not constitute a criminal act.
This is a developing story.
