Former Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum

The bail variation ruling for former Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum to travel to overseas for medical treatment has been denied by the Suva Magistrates court.

Magistrate Sufia Hamza dismissed the bail variation citing that Sayed-Khaiyum has received treatment for the heart condition previously.

Magistrates Hamza informed that there is no new, clear or exceptional circumstances for the variation to be granted as he had previously received treatment for four months in overseas.

Sayed-Khaiyum is charged with six counts of abuse of office and seven counts of obstructing the course of justice.

The magistrate stated that all these charges are of a serious matter.

The magistrate says that with Dr Sireli Kaloucava as one of the two specialist consultant in this case confirmed that post treatment is easily available in the country and that there is no need for Sayed-Khaiyum to travel to overseas.

Hamza told the court that Sayed-Khaiyum was produced in custody for this matter in February of this year and there was no application made at that point in time to issue a stop departure order on the notion that he had a medical review pending.

Sayed-Khaiyum was excused from court today.

The defense has been granted 28 days for appeal to the high court and the matter has been adjourned to September 3rd for mention and hearing with the other accused persons namely former health minister Neil Sharma and former Prime Minster Voreqe Bainimarama.