Opposition MP, Ketan Lal says he could not hold back his tears when he visited former Attorney General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum at Lautoka Aspen Hospital today.
Lal says he made a quiet stop in Lautoka on his way back to Suva to visit Sayed-Khaiyum.
The Opposition MP says Sayed-Khaiyum has suffered a stroke and his life-saving treatment overseas was denied 3 times.
Lal says what he saw today will stay with him forever.
He says Sayed-Khaiyum has suffered a stroke, his body is fragile, his voice has grown faint, and he can no longer sit upright for long.
Lal says he has never seen him like this before.
He says this is a man who gave years of his life to public service, and for 8 plus years, he stood firm in Parliament and in communities defending the law and what he believed was right for our country.
Lal says Sayed-Khaiyum was no perfect man like all of us before God, but he was a fighter and a true leader, and today he lies there, still and weak, barely holding on.
He says the former Attorney General is a father to three children, a loving husband, a son and a mentor to many people.
Lal says Sayed-Khaiyum needs to be taken overseas and needs immediate specialist treatment.
He says tonight, he is not thinking as a politician, he is thinking as a human being and a fellow Fijian.
Meanwhile Sayed-Khaiyum's bail variation hearing and the substantive case is adjourned to the 1st of August.
Chief Justice Salesi Temo says that Sayed-Khaiyum should go to Heart International, however, the defence counsel replied by saying that they had referred him to Lautoka Aspen Hospital as they don't do admissions.
Chief Justice Temo says if Sayed-Khaiyum has serious heart problems then he should go to Pacific Specialist Hospital as they have some success stories.
He has wished Sayed-Khaiyum a speedy recovery.
His trial date is set for 15th September to 3rd October.
Sayed-Khaiyum is charged with abuse of office while former Supervisor of Elections, Mohammed Saneem is charged with receiving a corrupt benefit.
It is alleged that Sayed-Khaiyum between June 30th and July 12th in 2022, whilst being the Acting Prime Minister, signed a Deed of Variation and Addendum between the Government and the then Supervisor of Elections, Mohammed Saneem and that the approval for the government to pay the taxes of Mohammed Saneem was done without the proper approval of the Constitutional Offices Commission and the President of Fiji.
It is alleged that between the 1st of June 2022 and the 31st of July 2022, while being employed as the Supervisor of Elections, Mohammed Saneem without lawful authority and reasonable excuse, asked for and obtained a benefit for himself, that is the approval and payment/waiver of tax of more than $55,000 that was charged on his back pay as a Supervisor of Elections.
