THE State will significantly reduce the number of charges against former attorney-general Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum and three other defendants accused of breaking civil aviation laws controlling the use of handguns on aircraft.
Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Laisani Tabuakuro told Justice Sunil Sharma at the High Court in Lautoka last Friday that the current 66 counts related to the unlawful carriage of a firearm on an aircraft would be reduced to about 30 counts.
This reduction is expected to take place when the State formally files the new information which will streamline the legal process and allow for a trial date to be fixed as soon as possible.
The case involves Mr Sayed-Khaiyum, former Fiji Airways executive Shaenaz Voss, Fiji Airways general manager Sharun Ali, and Fiji Airways’s domestic airline, Fiji Airlines trading as Fiji Link.
Last Friday was the first call of the matter in the High Court since it was transferred from the Nadi Magistrate’s Court. The presiding judge was Justice Sharma.
Mr Sayed-Khaiyum was represented by Gul Fatima, Ms Voss by Wasu Pillay and Fiji Link by Nilesh Prasad.
The prosecution proposed a timeline to file the information by March 20 which would then give the defence enough time to review the reduced charges and the associated evidence before the defendants return to court for plea in April. Ms Tabuakuro told the court that she hoped the matter would proceed to trial by August to ensure the matter is concluded within the year.
While Ms Fatima agreed to the adjournment, she told the court that specific trial dates would depend on the availability of the counsels’ diaries.
Justice Sharma has transferred the file to the court of Justice Aruna Aluthge for further determination. The matter has been adjourned to April 14 for plea.
Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum, left, shares a light moment at the high court in Suva. Picture: KATA KOLI
