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Former FBC CEO and Current CFO Charged by FICAC

Posted by Media Team 26 July 2024

Former Fijian Broadcasting Corporation (FBC) Chief Executive Officer, Mr Riyaz Sayed-Khaiyum and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Mr Vimlesh Sagar appeared in the Suva Magistrates Court today for corruption-related charges in two separate matters.

The Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) has charged Sayed-Khaiyum with two (2) Counts of Abuse of Office and two Counts of General Dishonesty – Causing a Loss while Sagar is charged with two Counts of General Dishonesty – Causing a Loss.

In the first matter, Sayed-Khaiyum is charged with One (1) Count of Abuse of Office for Gain for allegedly initiating five legal proceedings on behalf of FBCL, between 1 July 2017 and 31 January 2023, without the knowledge and approval of the FBCL Board of Directors.

The legal proceedings were against the current Prime Minister Sitiveni Ligamamada Rabuka, the Fiji Labour Party, Niko Nawaikula, Ben Padarath & Deo Raj Raju and Feroz Gulam Mohammed.

Sayed-Khaiyum is charged with an Alternate Charge of General Dishonesty – Causing a Loss by pursuing legal cases which were not in the interest of FBCL, amounting to $138,813.37.

Sagar is charged with One (1) Count of General Dishonesty – Causing A Loss for approving payments to be made to R Patel Lawyers with the FBCL Board of Director’s approval, amounting to $15,075.88.

In the second matter, Sayed-Khaiyum is charged with One (1) Count of Abuse for allegedly circumventing the tender process in FBCL’s Finance Manual to procure a Volkswagon Touareg vehicle for FJ$207,470.00.

In the Alternative Count, Sayed-Khaiyum dishonestly caused a loss to Fijian Broadcasting Corporation Pte Limited by procuring his Volkswagon Touareg vehicle for FJ$207,470.00, amounting to a total loss of FJ$84,470.00 to FBCL.

Sagar is charged with One (1) Count of General Dishonesty – Causing A Loss by approving payments relating to the purchase of the Volkswagon Touareg for FJ$207,470.00, which were not in the best interest of FBCL and amounting to a loss of $84,470.00 to FBCL.

For both matters, which were heard in two separate courts, both accused were granted a non-cash bail bond of $5000 each and ordered not to interfere with state witnesses, to reside at their respective residential addresses, to surrender their travel documents and Stop Departure Orders were issued for both of them.

The two accused also provided the same two sureties for the two matters.

Both matters have been adjourned to 26 August 2024 for the Second Phase of Disclosures.