The trial against former Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum and former Supervisor of Elections Mohammed Saneem will start this afternoon in the Suva High Court.

The trial is before Chief Justice Salesi Temo.

In this matter, Sayed-Khaiyum is charged with one count of abuse of office, alongside the former supervisor of election Mohammed Saneem, who is charged with one count of receiving a corrupt benefit.

It is alleged that 2022, whilst being the Acting Prime Minister, Sayed-Khaiyum signed a Deed of Variation approval for the government to pay the taxes for Saneem, which was done without the proper approval of the Constitutional Offices Commission and the President of Fiji.

It is alleged that Saneem without lawful authority and reasonable excuse, obtained a benefit for himself, that is, the approval and waiver of tax of more than $55,000 that was charged on his back pay.