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National

Fiji's former attorney-general arrested and charged with abuse of office

Former Fijian attorney-general Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum is expected to spend the night in custody. (Reuters: Regis Duvignau)

Fiji's former attorney-general Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum has been arrested and charged with one count of abuse of office.

The charge relates to a report by Fiji's acting supervisor of elections, Ana Mataiciwa, lodged in February, Police Chief of Intelligence and Investigations Sakeo Raikaci said in a statement.

Assistant Commissioner Raikaci said Mr Sayed-Khaiyum would remain in custody overnight and front Suva Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

The charge against him was sanctioned by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution, he said.

Mr Raikaci asked the public to remain patient while they finish conducting investigations of "high profile cases".

Investigators needed time to gather evidence and "rushing the investigation process could hinder the prosecution outcome", he said.

He reiterated the special task force investigating the case was independent and reported directly to his office.

"I have full confidence in their ability to conduct their work according to the law," he said.

Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum was attorney-general and the minister for economy and climate change in the previous Fijian government which lost power following last year's election. .

Other officials charged with abuse of office 

Last month, Fiji's former prime minister Frank Bainimarama and former police commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho were arrested and spent a night in custody after also being charged with abuse of office.

They were granted bail and released after pleading not guilty.

The charges were not linked to the accusations against Mr Sayed-Khaiyum.

Mr Bainimarama and Brigadier-General Qiliho were accused of interfering with an investigation into the University of the South Pacific.

Fiji police arrested and laid charges after questioning Mr Bainimarama over allegations that they directed police to close investigations into senior officials at the University of the South Pacific in 2019.

Mr Bainimarama, who led Fiji for 16 years, lost December's general election and was suspended from Fiji's parliament last month.

He later announced his resignation from the Pacific nation's parliament "with immediate effect" but vowed to remain in politics.

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