Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The New Daily
The New Daily
Kirsty Needham

Fiji’s former attorney-general Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum taken into custody over alleged abuse of office

Fiji’s ex-attorney-general Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, with ex-PM Frank Bainimarama, is in custody and will face a Suva court. Photo: AAP

Fiji’s former-attorney general Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, who is also general secretary of the Pacific island nation’s main opposition party Fiji First, has been taken into custody after being charged with abuse of office, local media reports.

The criminal charge was approved on Monday by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution and relates to a complaint by an election official, FBC News reported.

The office did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment outside of office hours.

Mr Sayed-Khaiyum remains in custody and will be produced in the Suva Magistrates Court on Tuesday, multiple Fiji media outlets reported.

On its Facebook page, Fiji First showed a video of Mr Sayed-Khaiyum emerging from a police station and declining to answer media questions as he was taken away.

Fiji First could not be reached for comment.

Fiji’s former long-serving prime minister Frank Bainimarama pleaded not guilty in a Suva court in March on charges of abuse of office, and will face trial.

Mr Bainimarama led the Pacific island nation for 16 years until narrowly losing an election in December to a coalition of parties led by current Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka.

-AAP
Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.