FBC procurement case to proceed to trial with up to 15 witnesses

The prosecution expects to call between 10 and 15 witnesses when the trial involving former Fiji Broadcasting Corporation (FBC) chief executive officer Riyaz Sayed-Khaiyum and chief financial officer Vimlesh Sagar begins next month.

FICAC lawyer Setefano Komaibaba told the Suva Magistrate Court today that the State was ready to proceed with the trial, which is scheduled to begin on August 25.

The two appeared before Magistrate Joseph Daurewa over charges relating to the procurement of a 3.0-litre Volkswagen Touareg valued at $207,470.

Sayed-Khaiyum faces one count of abuse of office for gain and one count of general dishonesty causing a loss.

It is alleged that between 2017 and 2024, he pursued five legal matters without approval from the FBC Board, allegedly causing a loss of $138,813.37.

Sagar faces one count of general dishonesty causing a loss.

He is accused of approving payments totalling $15,075.88 to R Patel Lawyers in 2023 without board approval.

Sayed-Khaiyum’s lawyer, Gul Fatima, told the court the defence was still awaiting a response to correspondence sent to the prosecution in November last year.

She said they were hopeful the matter would now be addressed following the appointment of new FICAC counsel.

Sagar’s lawyer, Ritesh Singh, said there were currently no agreed facts between the parties.

Mr Komaibaba said the prosecution would prepare a fresh set of agreed facts for the defence to consider.

The court also heard that the defence would submit representations to the State before the trial.

The matter has been adjourned to July 31.