In a recent session at the Suva High Court, Preetika Prasad, previously the Secretariat of the Constitutional Offices Commission and Acting Solicitor General, confirmed that there was no tax relief proposal for Mohammed Saneem, the former Supervisor of Elections, in 2022. This statement serves to clarify prior misconceptions when the Independent Committee purported Saneem’s salary to be between $320,000 and $370,000 but did not suggest any tax benefit relief originating from the committee or the Commission.
The Independent Committee, consisting of Harun Ali and Pravish Punja, was tasked with assessing the remuneration of key electoral positions, namely the Supervisor of Elections, the Electoral Chair, and the Auditor General. During her testimony, Prasad disclosed an interaction with Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, the ex-Attorney-General, who instructed amendments to Saneem’s original Deed of Variation. This resulted in a newly drafted and executed deed between Saneem and Sayed-Khaiyum, however, it was neither brought up in later Constitutional Offices Commission meetings nor communicated to the President.
Currently, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum is facing charges related to abuse of office, whereas Mohammed Saneem is accused of accepting a corrupt benefit. The indictments suggest that in his capacity as Prime Minister, Sayed-Khaiyum irregularly sanctioned the payment of Saneem’s taxes without required authorization, thereby providing him with an unwarranted financial advantage. These judicial proceedings are slated to go on until October 3, with additional hearings scheduled.
The unfolding legal evaluations underscore issues concerning the legitimacy of the actions executed during Saneem’s period in office, highlighting alleged attempts for substantial tax remissions on his back pay. This scrutiny underlines the necessity for transparency and adherence to established protocols within public office functions. The hearings prove crucial for upholding accountability among public officials and ensuring the integrity of governmental procedures.