44 Counts Against Sayed-Khaiyum, Bail granted

Former Attorney General and Minister for Civil Aviation Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, former Executive General of Corporate Affairs, Fiji Airways Shaenaz Voss, and Fiji Airways General Manager Safety, Security and Quality, Sharun Ali were released on strict bail conditions on Friday.

The three appeared before Magistrate Semi Babitu at the Nadi Magistrates Court facing multiple charges which occurred between 2018 and 2023.

The court heard that Mr Sayed-Khaiyum is charged with a total of 44 counts (11 counts of unlawful carriage of firearm on aircraft, 11 counts of receiving a corrupt benefit, 11 counts of breach of trust by a person employed in the public service and 11 counts of abuse of office).

Ms Voss is charged with three counts of giving a corrupt benefit and Ali is charged with 11 counts of giving a corrupt benefit.

Furthermore, Ms Voss, Mr Ali, and Fiji Link are charged with five counts of breach of mandatory reporting of security occurrences and three counts of breach of airline security.

The accused persons are charged under the Civil Aviation (Security) Act 1994, Civil Aviation (Security) Regulations 1994, and Crimes Act 2009.

Acting Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Laisani Tabuakuro, and Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), John Rabuku represented the state.

Lawyer Gul Fatima represented Mr Sayed-Khaiyum and Ms Voss while Mr Ali was represented by lawyer Wasu Pillay.

Ms Tabuakuro, informed the court that they did not oppose bail, but asked for stricter bail conditions including a substantial cash bail bond of $50,000 citing the gravity of the allegations.

The defense counsels Ms Fatima and Mr Pillay argued that the cash requirement of $50, 000 was too much and not realistic. They suggested non-cash bail bonds as was the matter in other courts where the same accused stood.

Mr Pillay said his client was not going to run away, as it is more than a year since the investigation began.

Ms Tabuakoro replied that the accused had treated the airline like their own over those five years.

She informed the court to exercise discretion in non-cash bail bonds. She requested a time of six weeks for the matter to be called.

Magistrate Semi Babitu granted bail conditions, where the accused must surrender their passports, adhere to a stop departure order, and refrain from interfering with prosecution witnesses, many of whom are employed by Fiji Airways.

The court heard that Mr Sayed-Khaiyum’s passport is currently held by the Suva Magistrates Court.

Mr Babitu granted a non-cash bail bond of $10,000 and each accused was required to provide two sureties, who are likewise subject to the non-cash bail bond.

The matter will be called at the Nadi Magistrate Court on November 14.

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