Former Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) investigator Alifereti Wakanivesi recalled in court that then Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum “swore” during a briefing into the commission’s investigation of former Health Minister Dr Neil Sharma’s alleged breaches of procurement processes in 2011.
Mr Wakanivesi testified that he was supposed to make a PowerPoint presentation to Mr Sayed-Khaiyum, who was then the Attorney-General. But Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said he was about to go for prayers and instead asked to be briefed on the commission’s investigation.
He said that while he was briefing him, Mr Sayed-Khaiyum, who was reading the document at the same time, stopped and “swore”, before remarking: “What a tone to begin prayer,” during the June 29, 2012 meeting at Suvavou House.
The meeting was attended by FICAC’s manager legal, manager investigations, former deputy commissioner George Langman, and himself.
Mr Wakanivesi told the court that he later stepped out while Mr Langman and the other officers continued briefing Mr Sayed-Khaiyum.
He said Mr Sayed-Khaiyum was presented with evidence gathered against Dr Sharma through a presentation he had prepared. The investigation focused on two tenders, CTN 66/2011 and CTN 153/2011, relating to the procurement of medical equipment.
Mr Wakanivesi said search warrants were executed at several locations, including Fiji Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Services, the Ministry of Health, and the Fiji Procurement Office, where investigators obtained documents such as tender files, correspondence, evaluation committee minutes, and emails.
Among the locations was the Office of the Prime Minister, where investigators obtained several documents, including a memorandum relating to financial matters concerning medical equipment procurement.
The documents also included correspondence addressed to then Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama, as well as letters and tender-related records connected to the procurement process. Investigators also found letters from the Ministry of Health to the Fiji Procurement Office requesting procurement action, including one from a permanent secretary and another recommending a supplier, Hospital Engineering & Consultancy Ltd, also known as Hospineer.
However, Dr Sharma’s lawyer, Wylie Clarke, raised an objection when Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Laisani Tabuakuro attempted to tender some of the documents obtained during the searches as evidence.
Mr Clarke told the court Dr Sharma was objecting to all documents produced through Mr Wakanivesi, particularly those obtained through search warrants and seizures, arguing the witness could not verify whether the documents’ contents were in fact true. He said the documents should instead be introduced through the original authors or custodians of the records.
Mr Wakanivesi, who served with FICAC from 2010 to 2025, will continue giving evidence today.
