Government paid Saneem’s taxes, High Court hears

Fiji Revenue and Customs Service (FRCS) senior manager and chief tax assessor Lewai Karavaki told the court today that former Elections Supervisor Mohammed Saneem was taxed according to his salary increase.
The increase, endorsed by the President, was set at $350,000. The testimony was part of the trial of former Elections Supervisor Mohammed Saneem at the High Court in Suva today.
Ms Karavaki told the court that whatever was agreed between the Government at the time and Saneem was none of the FRCS’s business. However, regarding tax, the agency did not consider his back pay or any other deductions.
Instead, they looked at his newly declared salary of $350,000 and subtracted his tax on Pay As You Earn (PAYE), Social Responsibility Tax and ECAL tax which came to $55,794. 
Ms Karavaki told the court she had never seen such a case where the Government was paying a local employee’s tax. 
She said this was only applicable in the case of an expatriate whose tax would be burdened by his employer. 
The trial continues tomorrow.