Fijilive: Malani files review on alleged AG bombing case:
April 10, 2021
The woman who accused Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum of being involved in two bombings in 1987 has filed an application with High Court for a judicial review. Veronica Malani had lodged the application of judicial review on Wednesday in Suva against the Director of Public Prosecutions.
She said she was now waiting for confirmation on a court date next week. In January, the public prosecutor dismissed the case after a six-month police investigation couldn’t find ‘credible evidence’ to press charges. Director of Public Prosecution Christopher Pryde had said there was insufficient evidence to support any criminal charges laid against the Attorney General.
“Following a review of the police docket, it is our opinion that there is insufficient credible or reliable evidence to support any criminal charges being laid against the Attorney General.
“Therefore, the docket has been returned to police with the instruction not to charge and no further action is required,” Pryde had said.
Malani said she was disappointed by Pryde’s decision not to lay charges.
“The scales of justice have now been tipped and ordinary citizens like me are severely suffering from access to justice and basic human rights,” she said.
She, her father, and brother alleged that their family was a direct target of two politically motivated bombing attacks involving Sayed-Khaiyum, during the height of the 1987 coups.
It is alleged that as a result, Malani’s mother suffered serious injuries, and a bystander died during one of the attacks.
In their police statements, Malani and Ratu Benedito, who were 14 and 13 years old at the time respectively, claimed that they had identified Sayed-Khaiyum as the attacker.
Police had completed their initial investigations and sent the evidence to the DPP’s office on 13 November last year.
April 10, 2021
The woman who accused Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum of being involved in two bombings in 1987 has filed an application with High Court for a judicial review. Veronica Malani had lodged the application of judicial review on Wednesday in Suva against the Director of Public Prosecutions.
She said she was now waiting for confirmation on a court date next week. In January, the public prosecutor dismissed the case after a six-month police investigation couldn’t find ‘credible evidence’ to press charges. Director of Public Prosecution Christopher Pryde had said there was insufficient evidence to support any criminal charges laid against the Attorney General.
“Following a review of the police docket, it is our opinion that there is insufficient credible or reliable evidence to support any criminal charges being laid against the Attorney General.
“Therefore, the docket has been returned to police with the instruction not to charge and no further action is required,” Pryde had said.
Malani said she was disappointed by Pryde’s decision not to lay charges.
“The scales of justice have now been tipped and ordinary citizens like me are severely suffering from access to justice and basic human rights,” she said.
She, her father, and brother alleged that their family was a direct target of two politically motivated bombing attacks involving Sayed-Khaiyum, during the height of the 1987 coups.
It is alleged that as a result, Malani’s mother suffered serious injuries, and a bystander died during one of the attacks.
In their police statements, Malani and Ratu Benedito, who were 14 and 13 years old at the time respectively, claimed that they had identified Sayed-Khaiyum as the attacker.
Police had completed their initial investigations and sent the evidence to the DPP’s office on 13 November last year.
