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From Fijileaks Archives, 18 December 2021
Alleged false claims by former Chairman of the Electoral Commission
* It has been brought to our attention that Suresh Chandra had been claiming sitting allowances at the rate of $500 per meeting for numerous days over a long period of time when the Commission did not have any scheduled meetings on those days
* It is alleged that the payment of these fraudulent or false claims were authorized and facilitated by the Secretary to the Commission, Mohammed Saneem, who is also the Supervisor of Elections
* It is further alleged that Mohammed Saneem paid these fraudulent claims amounting to several thousand dollars each month, by issuing
CASH CHEQUES
* We have been informed that Chandra has made an application to the Independent Legal Services Commission to travel abroad for urgent medical treatment. However, our enquiries have revealed that he has
NO serious health issues and is not known to have been treated locally for any life-threatening conditions in recent times.
* We wish to add a further instance of serious professional misconduct on Saneem's part. It is alleged that the Supervisor of Elections Mohammed Saneem recruited one NEELAM PRASAD to a specially created Public Relations and Engagement Co-ordinator position in November 2019 without advertising the post as required under the recruitment rules of the Fiji Elections Office.
It is believed that he directed the post not be advertised
* We urge you to order the immediate suspension of Mohammed Saneem and to order an investigation of the matter by notifying the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) and
the Auditor-General
* We look forward to your acknowledgement of this letter and a reply on the action you intend taking in the matter
* In conclusion, we wish to say that the Attorney-General and Minister for Elections has a lot to answer for on the matters raised in this matter
* We will address you separately on the issue following the conclusion of our enquiries with certain other government agencies
* We emphasis that we regard the issues raised herein and in our letters of August and 18 November 2021 as matters of public interest requiring immediate action on your part
Yours sincerely
Mahendra Pal Chaudhry, Leader, FLP
Jagath Karunaratne, Leader, Freedom Alliance
Savenaca Narube, Leader, Unity Fiji
Fijileaks: Once again, both SITIVENI RABUKA and BIMAN PRASAD have not affixed their signatures to the above letter. We may recall the NFP leader, like a subservient apron-clad chambermaid, is waiting to crawl under the political bed next year, when he is in a NEW GOVERNMNENT, to find out what was going on under FFP rule.
*For Bloody GOD's SAKE, how can YOU crawl under the political bed after the election to search for corruption, when it is allegedly rife in the
Fiji Elections Office, NOW!
The Fiji Independent Commission against Corruption has concluded its investigation into the complaint lodged by leaders of three political parties.
The complaint was lodged against former Chair of the Electoral Commission, Suresh Chandra and Supervisor of Elections, Mohammed Saneem by Fiji Labour Party leader Mahendra Chaudhry, leader of Freedom Alliance Jagath Karunaratne and leader of Unity Fiji Savenaca Narube.
In a statement, FICAC says the letter of complaint dated 21st December 2021 alleged Chandra, had claimed and was paid sitting allowances at a rate of $500 per meeting for numerous days, over a long period of time, when the Commission did not have any scheduled or unscheduled meetings.
FICAC says they had initiated a thorough investigation and verified all relevant documents relating to the alleged payments, the recruitment process as well as interviewed a number of witnesses including the Complainants.
It says during the course of investigation, Jagath Karunaratne withdrew his complaint and did not provide a complete witness statement.
FICAC says it has established that there were no evidence whatsoever to support any of the false or fraudulent payments claimed and paid by Chandra and Saneem, respectively.
It says all payments made were legitimate payments verified and made in accordance with the Electoral Commission’s Governance and Operational Guidelines.
In relation to the recruitment allegation, it was established that the Fijian Elections Office had followed an open merit recruitment process as per its Human Resources Policy and all staff recruitments and their subsequent upgrading were done legitimately following the due process within the statutory powers vested in that Office.
FICAC says the allegations stated in the complaint were baseless and without any merit.
It also says that Chaudhry and Narube did not provide any cogent evidence to support their allegations during the investigations but simply relied upon hearsay information provided by unnamed sources.
FICAC says the Commission has deemed that the complaint warrants no further legal action.
The complaint was lodged against former Chair of the Electoral Commission, Suresh Chandra and Supervisor of Elections, Mohammed Saneem by Fiji Labour Party leader Mahendra Chaudhry, leader of Freedom Alliance Jagath Karunaratne and leader of Unity Fiji Savenaca Narube.
In a statement, FICAC says the letter of complaint dated 21st December 2021 alleged Chandra, had claimed and was paid sitting allowances at a rate of $500 per meeting for numerous days, over a long period of time, when the Commission did not have any scheduled or unscheduled meetings.
FICAC says they had initiated a thorough investigation and verified all relevant documents relating to the alleged payments, the recruitment process as well as interviewed a number of witnesses including the Complainants.
It says during the course of investigation, Jagath Karunaratne withdrew his complaint and did not provide a complete witness statement.
FICAC says it has established that there were no evidence whatsoever to support any of the false or fraudulent payments claimed and paid by Chandra and Saneem, respectively.
It says all payments made were legitimate payments verified and made in accordance with the Electoral Commission’s Governance and Operational Guidelines.
In relation to the recruitment allegation, it was established that the Fijian Elections Office had followed an open merit recruitment process as per its Human Resources Policy and all staff recruitments and their subsequent upgrading were done legitimately following the due process within the statutory powers vested in that Office.
FICAC says the allegations stated in the complaint were baseless and without any merit.
It also says that Chaudhry and Narube did not provide any cogent evidence to support their allegations during the investigations but simply relied upon hearsay information provided by unnamed sources.
FICAC says the Commission has deemed that the complaint warrants no further legal action.
