In a recent development from the Suva High Court, Mohammed Saneem, the former Supervisor of Elections, is embroiled in a legal battle alongside former Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum. The case centers on allegations of Saneem illicitly receiving a corrupt benefit and Sayed-Khaiyum abusing his office. The latest testimony from the Manager of Human Resources at the Fijian Elections Office, Afrina Hussein, highlights a closed-door meeting in 2022 where Saneem discussed a salary increase with the Human Resources team.
Hussein confirmed to the court that she received Saneem’s employment contract in 2021 and that the document was retained in his personal file, with a copy sent to the finance team for payroll processing. After the first Deed of Variation was received and returned to Saneem in July 2022, a second deed was submitted by the financial team later that month. Hussein admitted she did not query why the first deed was returned, as it was not typical under HR policies for such documents to be returned directly to an employee.
The allegations against Saneem aren’t new; they are part of a larger narrative of legal scrutiny where he is accused of benefiting from tax relief on a backdated salary adjustment without proper authorization. Similarly, it emerged that Saneem’s pay was substantially increased following a committee’s recommendations, though concerns have been raised about the legitimacy of tax deductions and government-authorized payments on his behalf.
A larger background to these proceedings involves a history of governance issues, as evidenced by similar testimonies related to improper authorizations of salary increments by Sayed-Khaiyum during his tenure as the Acting Prime Minister. The defense for both figures continues to unravel against the backdrop of concerns regarding ethical governance practices in Fiji. As the trial proceeds, it underscores the judiciary’s crucial role in addressing such allegations of misconduct and striving for transparency and accountability in the public sector.