During proceedings in the Suva High Court, Preetika Prasad, the former Secretariat of the Constitutional Offices Commission and Acting Solicitor General, testified that no tax relief recommendation was proposed for Mohammed Saneem, the former Supervisor of Elections, in 2022. Prasad clarified that no such benefit regarding Saneem’s salary, which was suggested to be between $320,000 and $370,000 by an Independent Committee, was ever put forward by either the committee or the Commission.
The Independent Committee, comprising Harun Ali and Pravish Punja, was responsible for reviewing the salaries of the Supervisor of Elections, the Electoral Chair, and the Auditor General. Prasad’s testimony also revealed that Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, the former Attorney-General, had contacted her regarding amendments made to Saneem’s initial Deed of Variation, which led to a second deed being drafted and executed between Saneem and Sayed-Khaiyum under his instructions. This second deed was not discussed in any subsequent meetings of the Constitutional Offices Commission, nor was it communicated to the President.
Currently, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum faces charges of abuse of office, while Saneem is charged with receiving a corrupt benefit. The allegations claim that Sayed-Khaiyum, acting as Prime Minister, improperly authorized the payment of Saneem’s taxes without the necessary authorization, thus granting him financial advantage. This trial is a part of proceedings that are scheduled to continue up to October 3, with further hearings anticipated.
Similar ongoing legal proceedings demonstrate that there are concerns about the legality of actions taken by both parties during Saneem’s tenure as Supervisor of Elections, including alleged requests for significant tax deductions on his back pay. The scrutiny this case has garnered emphasizes the importance of transparency and protocol compliance within public office operations. These hearings are pivotal for holding public officials accountable and ensuring that governmental processes maintain integrity.