There was an ugly element to yesterday’s attempt by Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum to get permission to travel to Singapore for medical treatment – the conduct of the state prosecutor, Nancy Tikoisuva, one of the also-rans who have been elevated in the ODPP by the illegally appointed Acting DPP, John Rabuku.
It is perfectly acceptable in any case for the ODPP to oppose a variation in bail conditions to allow an accused person to travel overseas if they think, as in the case of Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, that he is a flight risk. But there was a nasty edge to the entire proceedings in that Nancy Tikoisuva simply couldn’t contain her prejudice against the ousted AG. Instead of quietly stating her case to the magistrate, she demonstrated a distinct lack of professionalism by making it so demonstrably personal.
It is all part of a much more aggressive posture in the courts by the Rabuku gang of prosecutors. Yet it is not only a insult to the judiciary, whose members are more than capable of making up their own minds, it has introduced an American style of assertiveness that is totally at odds with the tradition we inherited from the British of leaving the emotion out of it and assessing any case dispassionately and with courtesy and judgment.
Perhaps Nancy Tikoisuva was riled by the juvenile antics of the ousted AG’s brother, Riyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, who was eventually expelled from the court for laughing at her utterances and generally making an idiot of himself. But that doesn’t excuse the distinct prejudice she demonstrated against Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum in the arguments she made as to why he shouldn’t be allowed to again leave Fiji for medical treatment in Singapore.
We need only to ask ourselves this: If any other Fijian had had a heart bypass operation and kidney surgery in Singapore and needed further attention, would the state oppose them being able to get it? Of course not. If any of us were in Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum’s position, would we be happy being told that we could go to the CWM instead? The prosecution produced a letter from a local cardiologist saying that Khaiyum could be treated in Fiji. Oh really? Would you stake your life on it?
It wasn’t mentioned in the court yesterday but there is one reason above all else that Grubsheet doesn’t think Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum is a flight risk. It is his elderly father, Sayed, to whom he is utterly devoted. And it is inconceivable to me and anyone else who knows the family that he would become a fugitive from justice overseas if it meant being separated from his father and mother, who are no longer able to travel.
It is clear that the authorities of the “New Order” are determined to put Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum behind bars with his partner, Frank Bainimarama. But it is equally clear that Khaiyum is a sick man with a “dodgy ticker” and failing kidneys. If we are to have any pretence to decency as a nation, we must allow him access to the best medical treatment he can afford. And God knows that isn’t available in Fiji.
There is actually an upside for the authorities in letting him go because were he to die from having been prevented from leaving, they would create a martyr and that would cause all sorts of political and social upheaval. For a start, many Muslims in Fiji would never forgive the current powers that be. And there are many other people who just don’t buy the Coalition’s narrative – and sadly now, some people in FijiFirst – that Aiyaz is “Doctor Evil” – the devil incarnate. Memories are notoriously short. But there was actually a great deal of progress under FijiFirst and certainly a lot more discipline than under the current rabble.
When your kids are getting free schooling, that’s because of Aiyaz. The fact that Fiji Airways is flying high is because of Aiyaz. He gave us a constitution that whatever its flaws, guaranteed rights we’d never had before. He got us through the Covid pandemic. Yes, the national debt blew out. But many more people would have died without the efforts he made to protect the nation.
He deserves the best chance himself to live. And if for some reason, he doesn’t come back to face the music, so what? It mightn’t satisfy the blood-lust of the Coalition but might lower the overall political temperature and allow us all a fresh start. So just let him go.
Remember, he actually believes that Allah has chosen him to lead. So even the prospect of a jail cell isn’t going to deter him. He is on a mission from God. And having worked at close quarters with him for more than six years, I’ll wager one of my own kidneys that he’ll be back. (well, maybe not a kidney but certainly the embarrassment of being wrong).
Does Fiji have an extradition agreement with Singapore. In case he does not return. And locals in Fiji seem to know where he stays and which Fiji national provides him accommodation while in Singapore…in case he needs to be located by authorities to repatriate him.
But then again, he may go on the run under cover in Dhaka Bangladesh. Simpson and cohorts could be diverted from Berlin to Bangladesh to manhunt him.
Graham
There are many poor Fijians who lost their kidneys in Fiji
Many lost their loved ones as well
There is already a corruption case against him and former health minister in regards to hospital Tenders
Hospitals around Fiji has been neglected big time in last 16 years
We don’t need a highway cutting through Vitilevu,we need better health facilities
To keep him in power he borrowed to give all the freebies
Constitution doesn’t put food on table
He is the beneficiary of the constitution which he drafted with help of few
Almost every country borrowed or struggled during Covid
Fiji was no exception
They received help from donors
People were locked out for few years
As soon as boarders open, everyone got crazy
Travel industry and tourism had a boom all around the world
Till todate ,Fiji doesn’t have a report of how many people died of Covid
Don’t be a judge, let the court decide
He is no special
Care to elaborate how only one person benefits from the constitution ?
Before I elaborate, please can you tell who drafted the constitutionor were authors and was there a referendum
Was there a referendum when Fiji removed Queen Elizabeth as head of state and declared itself a republic?
Yes, quite right. Sitiveni Rabuka just gave her the boot. And then when he craved respectability again, he had the gall to go to Buckingham Palace and apologise.
None of us were consulted about whether we wanted to dispense with the monarchy. He just did it. And he and these other hypocritical bastards have the temerity to talk about the dictators of FijiFirst!
If the links with the Crown had been preserved, perhaps our institutions would be in much better shape than they are. Why have Canada, Australia and New Zealand retained the monarchy? Because it works a lot better than this shit-show.
And don’t tell me they are white people. The strongest support for retaining the monarchy in Australia is from people from other countries who have lived under republics and have seen them go backwards. An argument for another time.
Well said Rokotui, fully agree. Yes court should allow him to travel for medical help but as you said he is not special.
He is responsible for so many lives uprooted , so many that were ill treated and dragged to courts and so many that were threatened if they did not remain silent.
His record is a flawed constitution which GD says is democratic but it’s only democratic on face value. A flawed so called one men one vote , don’t take my word for it but read Wadan Narsey’s critic on this one men one vote.
Many FFP MPs with only 400 votes crawled his/her way into Parliament riding the coattail of Frank while someone with thousands of vote did not make it to Parliament as their party did not meet the 5% threshold
A selfish person who ensured that if he is no more then FFP will also be no more.The cause of FFP to self implode with a constitution that ensured no continuity and succession plan, he sunk the FFP ship, cut and run. He should have retired and handed over the party to the new team, but no he was selfish.
So much wrong with him and his rein of terror and undemocratic rule.
He did not save Fijj Airways but Fijj Airways was saved because of an excellent management team and a healthy balance sheet that was able to execute a Covid recovery plan that was approved by the then Government ( Full Marks to them) and backed by Parliament loan guarantees ( yes some stupid politicians in opposition were against Fiji Airways )
I have absolutely no sympathy for him but in the name of humanity he should be allowed to go and seek medical treatment. If he doesn’t come back then he will be an fugitive on the run.
@rajiv sharma, FJ Airways was saved because the previous government stared-down the the opposition calls and questions on ‘keeping the planes’ and ‘paying off the loans’.
Rokotui
Most Fijian chiefs receive top medical treatment overseas too at the expense of Fiji tax payers. Aiyaz has private medical health insurance. Paying out of his own pockets.
So how is he special?
Aiyaz has too much money stacked my friend
Insurance or no insurance doesn’t matter
Believe me
Pakistan knew where Bin Laden was hiding, yet they didn’t open their mouth until US hunted him out
So much drama. If all this had happened in Pakistan, ASK would have been hung, drawn and quartered already.
Rambo will let him go like he did the last time…
OMG … the laughter across Fiji when Graham wrote: ‘there was actually a great deal of progress under FijiFirst’.
Well, Charlie, pray tell how much progress has there been under the Coalition? Come on. Let’s hear it. As far as I can see, nothing has been achieved. Certainly nothing that wasn’t already in train under FijiFirst. Except a whole lot of flatulent wind about “finally being free”.
Maybe you don’t get the feedback I do over there in Yorkshire. But a lot of people are telling me that things are no better under the Coalition than under FijiFirst and are, in fact, a lot worse. The same thing I heard from Africans when I was reporting from Zimbabwe in the 1990s about Robert Mugabe being no better for the black population than Ian Smith.
The cries of “give them a chance” with this government have become “well things are a shambles but it’s because of 16 years of dictatorship”. Rubbish. The same old blame game we have always had in Fiji. And all you and your kai vata can do is laugh. The joke’s on you, mate. Promising change and delivering jack shit.
How about fiscal management, the budget deficit is down from 9 % to 4.8%
Without fiscal management everything else won’t matter as there will be no lavo.
Remember: he sold shares in EFL to the tune of $400M to pay for the budget shortfall. Smart saraga.
Really ?
Where did this laughter come from ?
From Charlie’s glee club of two around the bar in Yorkshire drinking pints of Old Peculier. Charlie and his shadow.
The granting of equal citizenry to the former coolies really grinds your racist gears doesn’t it, old man? Your mother in law would be proud.
Graham, I believe you are single-minded and are openly targeting i-taukei appointees within the DPP’s office. Your relentless criticism of the government and its appointees is frankly embarrassing. It is actually getting old. Were you not once allied with Bainimarama and his associates when they were systematically undermining Fiji’s democratic system? Were you not the PR expert responsible for sugarcoating their actions against Fiji and its people? You benefited from the previous regime, and now, from the comfort of Australia, you criticise everything about Fiji.
I understand the importance of holding the government accountable, but when will you adopt a more neutral stance? Your comments are racially charged and incite division.
I acknowledge that your parents or grandparents were missionaries to Fiji and that you were born there, but this heritage does not give you the right to manipulate the narrative and depict I taukei appointees as racists.
And I give you the right to express that view. My articles are riddled with praise for distinguished iTaukei, most recently Justice Tuilevuka. It’s the dross that I complain about. And it has nothing to do with being anti-iTaukei but about running the country on merit.
The assault on the institutions of state by this government is unforgivable. We will find out on June 28 if the illegal appointments of those found guilty of professional misconduct like John Rabuku will stand. Hopefully they won’t. But as I have said repeatedly, this is not compulsory reading. It’s an old white bloke saying what he thinks. And if you don’t like it, don’t read it.
What about the grave assault on the institutions under Frank and Aiyaz?
How conveniently forgotten.
Areh Neelesh, give it a rest Bhai. Go review some papers.
Wait, you weren’t invited to any, being the sub average academic that you’ve become.
@Kaidia. rajiv sharma the taolo boy, baimaan’s towel boy. copy and paste, stuck with repeating theories and pretentious nous now caught out and cast aside so working hard to be noticed.
Just wondering if all these medical conditions would have been an occurrence and an issue if he and Frank and FFP had formed Government for the third time in 2022?
Is this all now a false facade?
Would he have resigned as the AG to look after his failing health if he was back in Government ? Highly unlikely
Just wondering
If Aiyaz suffers medical episode while in Fiji he should sue Fiji Government for Millions
Nothing is free in this world, someone, somewhere along the line has to pay. You can’t say Education is free when government is running on a deficit budget. It means that government spends hundreds of millions of dollars each year that is not paid for in tax or foreign aid. The down side of govt cancelling school fees is that it has to increase its grants to schools to make up the shortfall. But parents still need to bear the escalating costs of uniforms, books, footwear and school lunches.
He belongs in jail and to experience first hand the level of medical services and facilities he allocated money to in 16 years – derelict infrastructure, understaffed facilities and lack of medicinie. Qarase was banned from traveling when he was 72 and needing bypass surgery under his direction. This fella doesn’t need surgery, just needs his balls checked as he seems to have lost it. He is a flight risk as he thought the calvary was going to come to Bai’s rescue. Now its just a matter of time that he will find himself in orange. Just get him to connect to Bai’s mobile phone when in Naboro so their heart flutters can be monitored together. You live by the sword, you die by the sword.
The brutal side of me says. Let him get treated here. Maybe he and all Ministers current and past will realize the shambles of health care in Fiji. Visit any hospital and see what ordinary people go through. But I guess the good side of the citizens always wins. Let the bugger go. We do not want to stoop to these politicians level. We also do not want to be cursed by politicians if anyone remembers that particular incident.
The decaying hospitals didn’t happen overnight. I think this govt is absolute shit. I do see the racism, and the curruption and ineptitude. However, the infrastructure was already so terrible and I feel really bad for people that endure such deplorable conditions in the hospital while he gets to get first class treatment in the best facilities.
I thinks that’s just awful and will cause a further hopelessness in the people to see that that some people can do whatever they want. Just because the govt is absolutely terrible does not mean the last was good.
So what if getting free bus passes but those kids don’t have freedom of speech, they will never be the same after being silenced so long and this current is enjoying the passivity caused by the last govt.
Again SLR is inept andonly says you can speak up once they see people already doing it. But there is still a lack of action because they are now trained by prior regime. And Fijians are just too patient in general.
You think he did a good job during Covid?
Good job controlling and forcing people to get vaccinated or else?
It’s now coming to light now the side effects of the vaccines.
People had no choice. That is an incredibly dangerous precedent.
There were checkpoints, drones and dogs looking for people out after curfew.
For tourism dollars, yes they were able to say “all hotel staff were vaccinated.” At what price. Yes that helped get numbers on tourism up.
But the rights of those workers were taken away. There are now cases in some other countries of people coming back and suing where they were made to do it, such as teachers.
If we did it all again would you want to be forced to vaccinate or lose your job? Or would you want to make your own choice?
How cab anyone sing the praises of the last or this one. Stand up for something truly democratic.
Covid vaccines saved the lives of millions of people around the world. And it is utter rubbish to suggest otherwise.
And all vaccines were donated
I cannot accept your terse two sentence dismissal of the vaccine issue which continues to unfold – I think you might need a little lie down – long day perhaps?
Reply to Anti Vaxer:
Yes if the global pandemic was repeated I would like to exercise my right to not be vaccinated.
As an Inca I would rather the human species perish and I not get vaccinated.
And if there was a situation requiring a national call by the govt for compulsory military conscription to defend our shores against an attacking enemy, I want to exercise my human rights freedom to not join the fight. Let others take on the responsibility for me so I can exercise my rights.
Yeah. My rights matter. But not my responsibilities for the common good which I want to enjoy on the back of others sacrifice.
Sounds yet again like I want a free this and free that and when I break it give me another replacement (car or navy boat)
Why did he and his family return from Australia when they went there for Christmas break after the 2022 election loss.
Why did he come back multiple times I think after going to Singapore.
Should have stayed overseas..enjoyed his $100 million dollar stash that he is alleged to have squirreled away. Andas someone said on social media he had sighted the asylum documents Aiyaz had lodged in Australia on that first trip there after elections.
So he applied for asylum and then returned to face the music here??!!
Has anyone spotted his Lamborghini or Superyacht…the type of perks that dictators give themselves. Is he going to enjoy them after his heart and kidneys fail !!
He should have stayed overseas and enjoyed his toys….if he has them
Pure jealousy, hatred, ignorance to list a few of the attributes of his detractors.
Many a lesser man would have taken the first flight departing Saigon, Kabul or Nadi and not looked back….like some who took the sea route to Tonga.
I think we can all agree this Coalition is absolute crap and spends more time bonking and arguing then doing anything meaningful for anyone except their own relatives, mistresses It’s atrocious. Everyone needs to go.
But let’s not forget the hell people went through. Let’s not normalize what it was like.
Let’s just focus on democracy and decide if we are going to put up with this farce or raise the expectations going forward. Being slightly democratic is not good enough.
Queen King or No King
No difference
Waste of tax payers fund when they holidayaround the world to look after them by host nations
Majority are third world countries
Today almost 50 percent in England doesn’t want monarchy
Wait and see in next 10 years
There won’t be any monarchy at all
The monarchy is sick and dare I say it irrelevant now…just a far fetched emotional attachment.
Not surprised Garham is supports it being a non resident Fiji born British,gentleman.
Move on mate, that grandfather of the coups circa 1987 turned Fiji into weird republic to say the least.
The noble banner blue which Graham so vehemently supports is no longer noble, yet Fijian historical ignorance allows it to be so.
We need a SECOND INDEPENDENCE without all the Britishness. This is the 21st century.
Just like Jake & Elwood, these local Blues Brothers wannabes are on a mission from God !
Rajiv Sharma,
stop hiding behind fake profiles… all your comments that you have posted are against ASK and Bainimarama.. don’t forget that the man you are supporting (Rabuka), is the man who is responsible for uprooting the Indo-Fijian families from their loved ones in the form of mass migration… you will only understand if you are a true Indian..
Fake profile, ha ha
Yes I do not and will never support Frank and Aiyaz as these are responsible for many things wrong in Fiji.
I have said it and will say it again that Frank could have been the best transformative leader in Fiji’s history but he squandered the opportunity.
FFP has some good people but the problem was they never spoke truth to power and now look at the current disaster within FFP about to be de-registered.
I agree that Rabuka has been a miserable failure as a leader for past 16 months and needs to go but I would rather have the freedom to speak my mind without fear of a knock on my door at 3 am to be dragged to Totogo Police Station.
Voreqe Bainimarama is the first and only transformative leader ever in Fiji. No itaukei will ever pledge such an undertaking ever again (and it is theirs to give) – a Rotuman President, Fijian as the national identity, equal distribution of lease monies, de-establishment of the GCC. These are the DNA of the itaukei. He hurt his people deeply for they do not share his political philosophy. Bainimarama asked the itaukei to give, in order to keep. As for the vulagi, they got what they wanted and gauged Rabuka as their opportunity to have it all. Alas, the itaukei reneged to be the greatest people that they can be. As for the vulagi, it has always been about self.
He was a leader that knew f**k all
Was listening to one man
That was the tool he used to stay in power
Always talking
about equal rights to all Bloody hospitals and other infrastructure were falling apart
They sneeze today and tomorrow they fly out in special flights to get checked
Useless c**t
Everything is short lived today. It includes the change that never saw the daylight in this collision government.
People can hate but one cannot deny the truth that no one can hold a person back in Fiji if the country doesn’t have adequate health care and specific to the specialist health need of the person. The government is not paying. ASK is whether through insurance or by other means. Legally Fiji is not allowed to hold any citizen back for advancing health concerns where the prognosis is better now. He needs care.
Everyone is innocent till proven guilty. And in this case the guilt cannot be shafted on anyone by the Rabuku appointed illegal gang. I emphasize on gang. This gang is more worrying than ASKs current charges.
Let the man be. He has spent nights in cells already fighting the thugs during coups. None of this bullshit scares him.
Mr Arts was stopped