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Sayed-Khaiyum and Sagar plead not guilty

Posted by Media Team 03 December 2024

Former Fijian Broadcasting Corporation Chief Executive Riyaz Sayed-Khaiyum and Chief Financial Officer Vimlesh Sagar have not pleaded not guilty to the charges laid by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) at the Suva Magistrates court yesterday.

Sayed-Khaiyum and Sagar appeared before the Chief Magistrate Josaia Waqaivolavola.

Sayed-Khaiyum is charged with One (1) Count of Abuse for allegedly circumventing the tender process in FBCL’s Finance Manual to procure a Volkswagon Touareg vehicle for FJ$207,470.00.

In the Alternative Count, Sayed-Khaiyum is alleged to have dishonestly caused a loss to Fijian Broadcasting Corporation Pte Limited by procuring his Volkswagon Touareg vehicle for FJ$207,470.00, amounting to a total loss of FJ$84,470.00 to FBCL.

Sagar is charged with One (1) Count of General Dishonesty – Causing A Loss by approving payments relating to the purchase of the Volkswagon Touareg for FJ$207,470.00, which were not in the best interest of FBCL and amounting to a loss of $84,470.00 to FBCL.

Both have informed the court though their legal representatives to have their case heard in the Magistrates’ court.

Magistrate Waqaivolavola will call for the pre-trial conference on April 11, 2025 for the PTC while the trial date has been set for September 2 to September 12, 2025.

The pre-trial conference will take place on the on the 11th April to confirm the PTC issues.

In the other separate matter, the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) has charged Sayed-Khaiyum with two (2) Counts of Abuse of Office and two Counts of General Dishonesty – Causing a Loss while Sagar is charged with two Counts of General Dishonesty – Causing a Loss.

Sayed-Khaiyum is charged with One (1) Count of Abuse of Office for Gain for allegedly initiating five legal proceedings on behalf of FBCL, between 1 July 2017 and 31 January 2023, without the knowledge and approval of the FBCL Board of Directors.

The legal proceedings were against the current Prime Minister Sitiveni Ligamamada Rabuka, the Fiji Labour Party, Niko Nawaikula, Ben Padarath & Deo Raj Raju and Feroz Gulam Mohammed.

Sayed-Khaiyum is charged with an Alternate Charge of General Dishonesty – Causing a Loss by pursuing legal cases which were not in the interest of FBCL, amounting to $138,813.37.

Sagar is charged with One (1) Count of General Dishonesty – Causing A Loss for approving payments to be made to R Patel Lawyers with the FBCL Board of Director’s approval, amounting to $15,075.88.

The matter which was supposed to be heard yesterday has been shifted to December 11.