Former Fiji Broadcasting Corporation CEO Riyaz Sayed-Khaiyum and current Chief Financial Officer Vimlesh Sagar have been acquitted by the Suva Magistrates Court after FICAC applied to withdraw the charges against them.

Magistrate Joseph Daurewa acquitted the two men this morning and ordered the release of their travel documents.

The stop-departure order against them will also be lifted.

FICAC Acting Commissioner Lavi Rokoika in a letter to Defence indicated the prosecutions inability to meet the elements of the offense.

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

The charges relate to the procurement of a Volkswagen Touareg worth $207,470.

It was alleged that Sayed-Khaiyum, between September 1 and November 11, 2022, abused his authority by circumventing the tender process outlined in FBC Limited’s Finance Manual to procure the vehicle.

The charge alleged that his actions were prejudicial to FBC Limited’s rights.

Sayed-Khaiyum was also charged with dishonestly causing a loss of $84,470 to FBC Limited through the procurement, allegedly knowing that the loss would occur or that there was a substantial risk of it occurring.

Sagar was alleged to have dishonestly caused the same loss to FBC Limited by approving payments relating to the vehicle’s purchase between October 1 and December 1, 2022.

The prosecution alleged that the purchase was not in the interests of FBC Limited and that Sagar knew the loss would occur or that there was a substantial risk of it occurring.

The acquittals bring the case against both men to an end.