The Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) has cleared Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum from allegations that he made false declaration of his assets.
FICAC ruled that there was no evidence and no merit in the complaint to “necessitate further action.”
Mr Sayed-Khaiyum, stressing he was speaking in his personal capacity and not as Attorney-General, highlighted that the complainant, Opposition Leader Ro Teimumu Kepa’s declaration of assets had anomalies.
“I have also done some digging up. Ro Teimumu Kepa, in her declaration on 31 May 2013, declared that she had cash at bank at $1000, land and buildings $250,000, motor vehicle $40,000, total fixed assets $290,000- we don’t know where this land and buildings is, we assume that is her Denison Road property.
On August 20, 2014, he said the Denison Road property was valued at $650,000, so the property value had jumped from one year, if it was the same property.
“Maybe it’s not the same property, but in February of 2015 the same property has suddenly depreciated in value on 2 February 2015. She says that the land and building is worth $168,000, a difference of approximately $450,000. As we all know that the real estates in Fiji appreciates, the value rarely depreciates
“So we would love to know which one of this declarations of hers is correct, 31 May 2013, 20 August 2014, or 2 February 2015, this is the anomaly.”
He said Mick Beddoes, who signed the letter of complaint against him on behalf of Ro Teimumu, had declared that he had shares in Powersavers Limited and McKaybel Corporation.
Mr Beddoes declared the value of the shares was $8000.
Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said Mr Beddoes had shown in the last company return that was filed on December 31, 2012, that he had shares of $3500, presumably another $3500 was transferred to him which is $7000 at $1 each so he is giving $8000.
“Perhaps it’s $7000 here but he’s valued the company or the shares at $7000 in the same way he has in another company McKaybel Corporation Limited where he says that his shares of value is at $8000 because he holds $8000 whose par value is at $1.
“Does he in his declarations show any assets of the company? I am not saying yes to but I am asking you the question, has he shown the assets held by the company if it has any?,” he asked.
Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said FICAC had cleared him of any wrongdoing.
“Let me tell you that this complaint that was signed by Mick Beddoes under the name of leader of opposition demonstrates quite clearly this Opposition is very desperate and frankly quite stupid,” he said.
“The land is not owned by me, even in the documentation, you will see that the title is that it is owned by Midlife Investments Limited.
“What I do own are the shares in the company, the issues is have I declared the value of the shares as can be seen quite clearly. In fact I have overstated the value in order to ensure that there is in fact more than transparent processes that have been put in place and you can see also again in the letter that the intention of declaration is to ensure that there is proper transparency, proper disclosure, there has been no intention in this particular matter of any agenda to hide anything.
“The letter speaks for itself.
“It is also very unprofessional that you have the Leader of Opposition sending a letter signed by Mick Beddoes, who is running the show, why is the Leader of Opposition allowing someone else from the office to make such a complaint when even a first year law student or form six student can tell you that the land is owned by Midlife Investment?
“This is the calibre of Opposition we have in our country,” he said.
He criticized the way the Opposition went to the media to promote its complaint.
“Are we having trial by the media, where is the criminal justice system? They talk about fair trial but when it comes to practice, they don’t believe in it. They only say it if it suits them. A test of the party, a test of a good government is when the rules apply to everybody .”
He said they had received complaints from members of the public regarding members of the Opposition and their declarations.
“There is one recently we received, nothing to do with us, it was sent to us, we simply sent it to the Registrar of Political Parties and the Supervisor of Elections . I don’t know what is done with it. But guess what? We didn’t go and tell all of you, it is about someone from the Opposition because it is not prudent to do that.”
Ro Teimumu and Mr Beddoes could not be reached to comment last night.