The case against former Fiji Broadcasting Corporation chief executive officer Riyaz Sayed-Khaiyum and FBC chief financial officer Vimlesh Sagar has been closed.

FICAC Counsel Setefano Komaibaba filed a nolle prosequi this morning in the Suva Magistrates Court, following the prosecution’s inability to summon two of its main witnesses to give evidence during the trial.

Sayed-Khaiyum was charged with one count of abuse of office and one count of general dishonesty causing a loss, while Sagar faced one count of general dishonesty causing a loss.

The charges relate to alleged legal proceedings and payments involving FBC.

Sayed-Khaiyum was accused of initiating five legal proceedings on behalf of FBC between July 1, 2017 and January 31, 2023, while serving as chief executive officer, without the knowledge or approval of the company’s board.

The prosecution alleged the proceedings were prejudicial to FBC and involved $138,813.37. He was also accused of dishonestly causing FBC a loss of the same amount by pursuing legal cases that were not in the company’s interest.

Sagar was separately accused of dishonestly causing FBC a loss of $15,075.88 between January 1 and December 31, 2023, by approving payments to R Patel Lawyers without the approval of the FBC Board of Directors.