Former Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum

Former Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says he has no intention of leaving Fiji.

Sayed-Khaiyum took the stand in the Suva Magistrates Court today for his hearing on a bail variation application filed earlier this month.

He says Fiji is his only home.

He took the stand to testify on allegations made by police inspector Suliasi Dulaki in his affidavit for the bail variation application.

In his affidavit, inspector Dulaki alleged that Sayed-Khaiyum had breached his bail conditions when he had gone for his medical treatment to Singapore last year.

There were allegations that Sayed-Khaiyum had gone to Bangladesh during that period.

However, this was strongly denied by Sayed-Khaiyum who says that during his medical treatment he was not in a condition to travel anywhere as he had medical wires running through his sensitive area.

When questioned by his counsel Devanesh Sharma, Sayed-Khaiyum stated that he has complied with his bail conditions and has done nothing wrong.

He says he wants to stay healthy for his family and for the trial as he wants to clear his name and the charges against him.

Sayed-Khaiyum also says that in his affidavit, Inspector Dulaki had allegedly stated that he had connections in Bangladesh.

The former AG says he has been to Bangladesh only twice in his capacity as the Minister for Economy and Acting Minister for Finance.

During the hearing it was also revealed that changes were made to the details on his immigration arrival card which stated that he had traveled to Bangladesh for business and that he was a Bangladeshi national.

However, Sayed-Khaiyum says that his travel history can be verified through his passport.

He says he had filled his arrival form stating that he is a Fijian citizen and that he was away from Fiji for a month.

Sayed-Khaiyum also says that the changes made on his immigration arrival card that he was away for a month and had gone to Bangladeshi for business is incorrect and that the details have been allegedly doctored.

He says he had applied for a visa extension when he was in Singapore due to his medical condition as he had heart and kidney issues.

The former AG also stated that following his medical treatment last year he was supposed to return to Fiji on 23rd December, however, while enroute to Fiji, a young boy died on the flight who was returning from his treatment in India.

He says due to this the flight returned to Singapore and he arrived in Fiji on 25th December.

He says he had surrendered his passport after arriving in Fiji.

Sayed-Khaiyum says he is not a flight risk but needs to go for his medical condition.

He says he has been suffering from excruciating pain recently and is also stuttering at times adding that he will be able to get the right treatment in by doctors in Singapore as they are aware of his medical conditions. .

In this matter Sayed-Khaiyum is charged with one count of abuse of office.

It is alleged that Sayed-Khaiyum authorized the government to pay taxes for former Supervisor of Elections Mohammed Saneem without requisite approval from the Constitutional Offices Commission and the President.

State Counsel, Nancy Tikoisuva will cross-examine Sayed-Khaiyum this afternoon.