Saneem’s Deed of Variation signing under scrutiny in court trial

Noleen Lata Narayan, a junior legal officer at the Office of the Solicitor-General in 2022, told the court she was called one weekend by Valarie Narain from the Drafting Division to witness the drafting of the second Deed of Variation.
The testimony was part of the trial of former Elections Supervisor Mohammed Saneem at the High Court in Suva today.
Ms Narayan said that upon arriving on Level 4 of Suvavou House, she saw Ms Narain drafting the document on her laptop, with Saneem seated opposite her.
She told the court that the then acting Solicitor-General, Preetika Prasad, was on the phone giving instructions, while Saneem wrote on a whiteboard and explained certain details.
She testified that former Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, who was acting as chairperson of the Constitutional Offices Commission at the time, was absent during the drafting.
Ms Narayan recalled that Saneem took the unsigned Deed and, days later, returned it already signed. Because she was meant to witness the signing, Saneem was called back to the Solicitor-General’s office to verify his signature.
The case continues tomorrow.