Former FBC Chief Executive Riyaz Sayed-Khaiyum has hit out at the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption for what he claims is unsatisfactory conduct, that led to him being taken in twice for questioning.
In a video interview posted on the FijiFirst Facebook page, Sayed-Khaiyum confirmed that he received a call from FICAC at about 6:30am on January 12, to be present at the FICAC Suva Office to answer questions.
The former journalist said he was summoned again yesterday.
Sayed-Khaiyum said FICAC officers seized his phone on the first occasion, only for the device to be returned to him yesterday.
This is despite his lawyers writing to FICAC to request his seized mobile phone back.
He said FICAC told him that they would return the phone on the same day or a couple of days later after the first caution interview.
Sayed-Khaiyum has also claimed that he was not given the opportunity to have his counsel of choice represent him, despite his rights guaranteed to him in the 2013 Constitution.
He said his counsel of choice at that time was Suva lawyer Davenesh Sharma, who was not available – forcing him to appear with a different lawyer.
“I went to FICAC with another lawyer, which FICAC told me that as part of my constitutional right, I had to have my lawyer of choice… which I pointed out that I did not have my lawyer of choice because they insisted that I turned up on the said date to be questioned.”
“This is something that is troubling and strange to me,” Sayed-Khaiyum said.
The former FBC head said the whole ordeal was disappointing, and that the Fijian public had the right to know how FICAC is conducting itself.
FijiLive has reached out to FICAC for comments.
