World

Fiji former attorney-general taken into custody

By AAP Newswire

May 1, 2023

FIJI ELECTION 2022 — Fiji's former attorney-general Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum (left) is in custody and will face a Suva court. -AAP Image

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.

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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.

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 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.

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.