State prosecution proposes up to 18 witnesses in firearms-on-aircraft case

The State prosecution has proposed between 15 and 18 witnesses in the case involving the alleged unlawful carriage of firearms on an aircraft.

The accused are former Attorney-General and Minister for Civil Aviation Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, former Fiji Airways executive general manager Corporate Affairs Shaenaz Voss, and Fiji Airways general manager Safety, Security and Quality Sharun Ali.

They appeared before Magistrate Jeremaia Savou at the Nadi Magistrate Court this morning.

They were represented by Gul Fatima, Wasu Pillay and Nilesh Prasad, while the prosecution was represented by Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Laisani Tabuakuro.

Ms Tabuakuro asked the court to adjourn the matter for final discussions on the pre-trial conference (PTC) so a trial date can be set. She also proposed the number of witnesses expected for the trial.

Meanwhile, Ms Fatima raised an issue regarding an error in the transcript, saying the gender of the first accused had been incorrectly altered.

“There are some corrections that need to be made. The name of the first accused, the gender has been changed, and I will be writing to the registry for a correction,” she told the court.

The three accused face 66 counts of various charges.

Sayed-Khaiyum faces 11 counts each of unlawful carriage of firearms on an aircraft, receiving a corrupt benefit, breach of trust by a person employed in the public service, and abuse of office.

Voss is charged with three counts of giving a corrupt benefit, while Mr Ali faces 11 counts of giving a corrupt benefit.

Additionally, Voss, Ali and Fiji Airline t/a Fiji Link face five counts of failing to report mandatory security occurrences and three counts of breaching airline security.

The charges are laid under the Civil Aviation (Security) Act 1994, Civil Aviation (Security) Regulations 1994, and the Crimes Act 2009.

Ms Tabuakuro told the court that the DPP may reduce the total number of counts.

She said Magistrate Savou may consider transferring the matter to the High Court if the anticipated witnesses and trial length exceed the Magistrate Court’s capacity.

He said the court has the authority to make such a transfer on its own motion, even without an application from counsel.

Magistrate Savou directed that the affidavit in response from counsel for the second accused, Voss, be filed and served within seven days.

The matter has been adjourned to February 6, 2026, for mention.