Fiji’s former Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum has been granted $10,000 non-cash bail.
Plea was deferred to allow his counsel to look over disclosures served by the prosecution.
FijiFirst MPs Viam Pillay and Praveen Bala appeared as his sureties.
Chief Magistrates Wahleen George also ordered Sayed-Khaiyum not to leave the country, not to interfere with the prosecution witness, not to re-offend, and report to the Namaka Police Station, which is closest to his residence in Martintar, Nadi every last Saturday of the month between 6am and 6pm.
The matter has been adjourned to June 13 for second-phase disclosures.
Sayed-Khaiyum appeared in court from Totogo where he was held overnight after being charged yesterday.
The charge relates to a complaint lodged by the Fijian Elections Office earlier this year, relating to the review and approval of former Supervisor of Elections Mohammed Saneem’s remuneration.
Among the changes made to Saneem’s contract included a salary increase that was backdated for the previous 18 months. It is alleged that between 30 June and 12 July 2022, while serving as the acting prime minister of Fiji, Sayed-Khaiyum allegedly agreed to the government paying Saneem’s taxes for the backdated pay.
The court heard that this agreement was made without obtaining the proper approvals from the Constitutional Offices Commissions and the President of Fiji.
Initial complaint documents stated these remunerations and allowances were paid to Saneem during the 2022 General Election campaign period.
