FIJIAN Elections Office (FEO) manager legal affairs Mesake Dawai yesterday testified before Chief Justice Salesi Temo about his role in an internal inquiry into the tax reimbursement of former Supervisor of Elections Mohammed Saneem.
Mr Dawai said he was instructed by then acting SOE Ana Mataiciwa to investigate the issue after concerns were raised by the FEO’s director corporate services Sanjeshwar Ram.
He told the court his inquiry began with financial controller Romika Sewak, who had retained a copy of the first Deed of Variation (DoV).
Ms Sewak told him she kept the document in case auditors later requested evidence.
According to Mr Dawai, Ms Sewak said the first DoV concerned Mr Saneem’s back pay and was subject to significant tax deductions, which led to a disagreement after it was processed. He testified that a second DoV later emerged.
He told the court that the two deeds carried the same date but different approvals. One bore the signature of then prime minister Voreqe Bainimarama, while the other was signed by then acting prime minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum.
Mr Dawai said this raised concern and he wrote to Ms Mataiciwa recommending referral of the matter to police.
He added that Ms Mataiciwa later sought clarification from the Constitutional Officers Commission and the Office of the President, who confirmed the additional clause on tax reimbursement had not been approved.
In his evidence, Mr Dawai also spoke of instances he believed showed irregularities in how political party matters were handled.
These included a declaration form submitted by FijiFirst without a date, which he said was later dated by Mr Saneem, campaign material at the Suva Civic car park that was not referred to FICAC, and the comparatively fewer complaints against FijiFirst sent to the commission.
He further testified about a phone call from Mr Saneem concerning nomination requirements under Section 36 of the Electoral Act. Mr Dawai said he felt intimidated during the call but stood by his interpretation that each candidate must sign the party list.
Mr Dawai is expected to be cross-examined by defence counsel Devanesh Sharma today.
