The ongoing trial at the Suva High Court, involving former Supervisor of Elections Mohammed Saneem and former Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, continues to reveal controversial governance practices and alleged misconduct within Fiji’s public sector. Testimonies, including the latest from the Fijian Elections Office’s (FEO) manager of legal affairs, Mesake Dawai, highlight the unraveling issues around tax reimbursements and opaque internal processes linked to Saneem.
During recent court proceedings, Dawai testified about his investigation into a tax reimbursement granted to Saneem, guided by instructions from the then-acting Supervisor of Elections, Ana Mataiciwa. Initially flagged by the FEO’s director of corporate services, Sanjeshwar Ram, the reimbursement raised suspicions as details unfolded involving two conflicting Deeds of Variation (DoV) with approvals from high-level government officials, yet with notable differences. One document carried the signature of the then Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama, and another was signed by acting Prime Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, both on the same date but containing different clauses, particularly concerning tax reimbursements.
Dawai expressed his concern over these discrepancies and highlighted irregularities in handling political party matters as part of broader governance issues. These included dated declaration forms and unexamined evidence of campaign activities that bypassed the required investigative procedures, as well as notably fewer complaints registered against FijiFirst.
These proceedings are encapsulated in a weighty legal backdrop where Saneem is accused of improperly acquiring benefits from government funds led by incompletely authorized government payments, further complicated by allegations of rights violations during his prior detention. Sayed-Khaiyum also faces grave charges of abuse of office linked to signing off reimbursement arrangements without proper endorsements.
The trial, encompassing testimonies from noteworthy figures such as financial controller Romika Sewak and the current Supervisor of Elections Ana Mataiciwa, marks a significant examination of ethical conduct and governance standards for Fiji. Emerging discussions focus on the need for reform to advance transparency and integrity within governmental operations, pointing to a potential transformation of oversight mechanisms in public service.
While the allegations have spotlighted errors in administrative practices, they have concurrently held a hopeful prospect for reform. The legal scrutiny promises to underscore the principles of accountability, thereby reinforcing public confidence in governmental institutions and setting reinforced standards for future governance.