"At 6am this morning, I was present at the Nadi International Airport to board a flight to Sydney. I was scheduled to return in 7 days and had my return ticket in hand. I checked in and made my way to the departure area. My flight was scheduled to depart at 9am. A police officer stationed at the entrance took my picture and immediately began making calls. He then came back to greet me and took another picture of me. At 7:25am I went inside the security check and immigration area. At the immigration office, I met with one Inspector Bari. She informed me that I was on the watch list. I was told by the Immigration Staff that the order was from the Attorney General's Office."
Former Election Supervisor Mohammed Saneem

"The Attorney-General has acted contrary to the law.
He has acted without any legal authority.
I was served with the Stop Departure Order at 2:40pm this afternoon by FICAC, which has the legal authority to do."
He has acted without any legal authority.
I was served with the Stop Departure Order at 2:40pm this afternoon by FICAC, which has the legal authority to do."
"In my letter of suspension, His Excellency, the President had directed me to hand over all my official property to Director Corporate, Sanjeshwar Ram. It was expected that all such equipment will be retained safely until the process concluded. |
Statement by Mohammed Saneem
Bula Vinaka
At 6am this morning, I was present at the Nadi International Airport to board a flight to Sydney. I was scheduled to return in 7 days and had my return ticket in hand. I checked in and made my way to the departure area. My flight was scheduled to depart at 9am. A police officer stationed at the entrance took my picture and immediately began making calls. He then came back to greet me and took another picture of me.
At 7:25am I went inside the security check and immigration area. At the immigration office, I met with one Inspector Bari. She informed me that I was on the watch list. I was told by the Immigration Staff that the order was from the Attorney General's Office.
While I was sitting in the office, I saw the Inspector and Immigration Staff make several calls. Inspector Bari confirmed to me that there were no directives from the Police to keep me from travelling. I was not aware of any live investigations against me nor any other matter which would warrant my name being present on the watch list since the time of my constructive resignation as Supervisor of Elections.
I question the legality and the presence of my name on the watch list in the absence of a stop departure order. Later, the Immigration staff returned to say that she was following a directive from the Attorney General and Commissioner FICAC as there was a pending investigation against me. I requested her to confirm again and she responded with "Yes Sir, FICAC".
That was the first time I found out about this investigation. As soon as I came out of the Airport, I noted reports in FijiVillage stating that the Attorney General had confirmed that I had been restricted from travelling to Australia. I also learnt from the same media reports that someone attempted to serve me with documents earlier in the week but that “I did not come out of the house”.
I was not aware of any such attempts being made, and in any event, yesterday I had a family prayer at my home. There were numerous people at my house throughout the day. The gate was also open all day. Guests left my house around 11pm. I can confirm that no one came with any documents.
My email is widely known to bodies, including the COC, which has contacted me through my email address, and if any person or body wished to serve me with any documents, they would be aware of my mobile number and email address. After I came out of the Airport this morning, I was asked by the media to respond to a press release from the Fijian Elections Office that was sent out at 9.06am.
This statement contained a number of legal inaccuracies. Based on usual FEO practices, media statements are sent immediately after a complaint is lodged. In the events leading up to my constructive resignation, I have not made any media statements or comments. After what has transpired today, I am compelled to issue this media statement.
From what I have been told by the Immigration officials and the Police at the Airport this morning, I am led to believe that the Attorney-General, without lawful authority, has issued this directive to keep me from travelling.
I do not understand why he provided confirmation to FijiVillage of the events that transpired at the Airport and why he needed to play a role in any of this. Based on what has happened this morning, I believe that there exists a severe defiance in the rule of law and infringement of liberties and freedoms guaranteed under the Fijian Constitution.
It also goes to show that anybody’s freedom of movement may be unduly restricted by the Attorney-General or any other person who does not have the legal authority to do so. The Attorney-General has acted contrary to the law. He has acted without any legal authority. I was served with the Stop Departure Order at 2:40pm this afternoon by FICAC, which has the legal authority to do.
I submitted my constructive resignation as Fiji's Supervisor of Elections on Tuesday, 31 January 2023. I had to do so because I found that the process followed by the Constitutional Offices Commission lacked natural justice, good governance and certain members failed to adhere to the principles enshrined in the Fijian Constitution.
Following my appointment to this position in 2014, I have successfully delivered the 2014, 2018 and 2022 General Elections in Fiji. In 2014, I worked tirelessly with my staff and consultants from the European Union, Australia and New Zealand to establish the Fijian Elections Office that conducted the first ever 1 day election. The 2014 General Election had 84% turnout and it had the lowest number of invalid votes as at 2014 historically. It was a brand new electoral system, brand new voters list and many more firsts for Fiji.
The Multinational Observer Group co-chaired by Australia, India and Indonesia praised the professionalism and commitment of the Fijian Elections Office in delivering the General Election. Following the 2014 General Election, I undertook a strategic approach to building capacity of the FEO staff and also built several key aspects of the office that would allow it to deliver credible elections in Fiji. These include developing an appropriate operational delivery mechanism, development of a proper polling venue management system, review and reorganise the voter registration services, election centric staffing for smooth and efficient delivery of elections, customised marketing strategies and programs to build voter engagement and participation, etc.
The FEO, under my leadership, has since conducted the 2018 and 2022 General Elections. In Fiji, there have not been any successful electoral petitions in any of the last 3 General Elections. Each of the elections have been observed by the Multinational Observer Group co-chaired by Australia, India and Indonesia. The MOG has found that the conduct of elections in Fiji have been professional, methodical and the MOG has noted various innovative practices in Fijian elections that can be regarded as new best practices. I have also joined international organisations as part of their election observation missions in regional countries.
I led the Pacific Islands Forum Observer Mission to the 2015 Autonomous Region of Bougainville Election. I was a member of the 2017 the Melanesian Spearhead Group Election Observation Mission for the Vanuatu snap election. I was a member of the Commonwealth Election Observation Mission to Tonga. I participated in election visitor programs to Australia, New Zealand, India and Republic of Korea. I have held executive board positions in the Association of World Electoral Bodies (AWEB), Commonwealth Electoral Network and the Pacific Island Australia New Zealand Electoral Administrators network (PIANZIA). I commissioned the development of the first ever compulsory curriculum for secondary students on elections in Fiji. It was first delivered in 2018 and has been delivered continuously every year since then.
The FEO has been conducting Trade Union elections since 2015. During the course of my tenure, I worked closely with the Australian and New Zealand Governments and their respective electoral bodies. I also worked closely with a number technical consultants from these countries to develop and enhance electoral practices in Fiji. I maintained close working relations with such technical consultants and they also took up Deputy Supervisor roles for the elections.
In resigning from my Constitutional Office, I had highlighted several critical issues that I now need to highlight publicly:
1. The obvious conflicts of interest of 3 members of the COC. This, however, appears to have been disregarded by COC to my prejudice. The complaint lacked any substance and ought to have been rightfully dismissed.
2. As a bipartisan constitutional body, COC’s fundamental duty is to uphold the principles of natural justice and fairness in dealing with any matter that comes before it.
3. The COC did not consult or inform the Electoral Commission of the matter as is required, and instead decided to leave the FEO to be operationally managed by Directors.
4. I am also aware that the Attorney-General has directly held meetings with officers of the Fijian Elections Office, despite the FEO being an independent institution. This is unprecedented as anything to do with the FEO ought to be done through the Supervisor of Elections. No other Attorney-General since I have been in the Fijian Elections Office has ever held such meetings.
These meetings took place without any form of written correspondence or official request. While I was suspended on a Complaint from political parties in relation to certain court cases, I was surprised when Director Operations, Anaseini Senimoli (who had already met the Attorney General in my absence) informed me on 19 January 2023 that she cannot speak to me due to the Tribunal investigation.
5. The Supervisor of Elections is also the Secretary to the Electoral Commission. The information and documents of the Electoral Commission are under the sole custody of the Secretary and his secretariat team. Staff of the FEO do not have access to the deliberations of the Electoral Commission. The FEO, through the SoE reports to the Electoral Commission and is bound by the decisions of the Electoral Commission. The minutes and records of the Electoral Commission are confidential and not available to FEO staff or any other person to readily access. Only those with legal authority are entitled to access the same.
It is my fear that during my suspension, there has been a pillaging of all confidential documents by staff of the FEO which ought to have remained confidential.
6. In my letter of suspension, His Excellency, the President had directed me to hand over all my official property to Director Corporate, Sanjeshwar Ram. It was expected that all such equipment will be retained safely until the process concluded.
On 24 January 2023, my official phone was switched on and the ‘Viber’ application was installed. Sanjeshwar Ram had either himself or through a third party attempted to access confidential information from my official device.
Rightfully, the equipment should have been handed to the Electoral Commission who are my supervisory body.
7. My Executive Assistant was directed to clear my office despite the fact that I remained the Supervisor of Elections, albeit suspended. I had not been removed from my position, and there was no need to clear my office.
On 25 January 2023, staff from the FEO delivered my personal items to my house.
I was aggrieved to find that verses of the Holy Quran which were hung in my office were placed in a box containing shoes.
The manner in which my office was cleared was a sign that staff of the FEO had been told that I would not be returning to my position.
Ana Mataiciwa was then appointed Acting Supervisor of Elections, and which acting appointment was made without consultation with the Electoral Commission as required under section 76(4) of the Fijian Constitution.
There are various issues that I have highlighted above which I will also bring to FICAC’s attention in due course through complaints against relevant persons
Bula Vinaka
At 6am this morning, I was present at the Nadi International Airport to board a flight to Sydney. I was scheduled to return in 7 days and had my return ticket in hand. I checked in and made my way to the departure area. My flight was scheduled to depart at 9am. A police officer stationed at the entrance took my picture and immediately began making calls. He then came back to greet me and took another picture of me.
At 7:25am I went inside the security check and immigration area. At the immigration office, I met with one Inspector Bari. She informed me that I was on the watch list. I was told by the Immigration Staff that the order was from the Attorney General's Office.
While I was sitting in the office, I saw the Inspector and Immigration Staff make several calls. Inspector Bari confirmed to me that there were no directives from the Police to keep me from travelling. I was not aware of any live investigations against me nor any other matter which would warrant my name being present on the watch list since the time of my constructive resignation as Supervisor of Elections.
I question the legality and the presence of my name on the watch list in the absence of a stop departure order. Later, the Immigration staff returned to say that she was following a directive from the Attorney General and Commissioner FICAC as there was a pending investigation against me. I requested her to confirm again and she responded with "Yes Sir, FICAC".
That was the first time I found out about this investigation. As soon as I came out of the Airport, I noted reports in FijiVillage stating that the Attorney General had confirmed that I had been restricted from travelling to Australia. I also learnt from the same media reports that someone attempted to serve me with documents earlier in the week but that “I did not come out of the house”.
I was not aware of any such attempts being made, and in any event, yesterday I had a family prayer at my home. There were numerous people at my house throughout the day. The gate was also open all day. Guests left my house around 11pm. I can confirm that no one came with any documents.
My email is widely known to bodies, including the COC, which has contacted me through my email address, and if any person or body wished to serve me with any documents, they would be aware of my mobile number and email address. After I came out of the Airport this morning, I was asked by the media to respond to a press release from the Fijian Elections Office that was sent out at 9.06am.
This statement contained a number of legal inaccuracies. Based on usual FEO practices, media statements are sent immediately after a complaint is lodged. In the events leading up to my constructive resignation, I have not made any media statements or comments. After what has transpired today, I am compelled to issue this media statement.
From what I have been told by the Immigration officials and the Police at the Airport this morning, I am led to believe that the Attorney-General, without lawful authority, has issued this directive to keep me from travelling.
I do not understand why he provided confirmation to FijiVillage of the events that transpired at the Airport and why he needed to play a role in any of this. Based on what has happened this morning, I believe that there exists a severe defiance in the rule of law and infringement of liberties and freedoms guaranteed under the Fijian Constitution.
It also goes to show that anybody’s freedom of movement may be unduly restricted by the Attorney-General or any other person who does not have the legal authority to do so. The Attorney-General has acted contrary to the law. He has acted without any legal authority. I was served with the Stop Departure Order at 2:40pm this afternoon by FICAC, which has the legal authority to do.
I submitted my constructive resignation as Fiji's Supervisor of Elections on Tuesday, 31 January 2023. I had to do so because I found that the process followed by the Constitutional Offices Commission lacked natural justice, good governance and certain members failed to adhere to the principles enshrined in the Fijian Constitution.
Following my appointment to this position in 2014, I have successfully delivered the 2014, 2018 and 2022 General Elections in Fiji. In 2014, I worked tirelessly with my staff and consultants from the European Union, Australia and New Zealand to establish the Fijian Elections Office that conducted the first ever 1 day election. The 2014 General Election had 84% turnout and it had the lowest number of invalid votes as at 2014 historically. It was a brand new electoral system, brand new voters list and many more firsts for Fiji.
The Multinational Observer Group co-chaired by Australia, India and Indonesia praised the professionalism and commitment of the Fijian Elections Office in delivering the General Election. Following the 2014 General Election, I undertook a strategic approach to building capacity of the FEO staff and also built several key aspects of the office that would allow it to deliver credible elections in Fiji. These include developing an appropriate operational delivery mechanism, development of a proper polling venue management system, review and reorganise the voter registration services, election centric staffing for smooth and efficient delivery of elections, customised marketing strategies and programs to build voter engagement and participation, etc.
The FEO, under my leadership, has since conducted the 2018 and 2022 General Elections. In Fiji, there have not been any successful electoral petitions in any of the last 3 General Elections. Each of the elections have been observed by the Multinational Observer Group co-chaired by Australia, India and Indonesia. The MOG has found that the conduct of elections in Fiji have been professional, methodical and the MOG has noted various innovative practices in Fijian elections that can be regarded as new best practices. I have also joined international organisations as part of their election observation missions in regional countries.
I led the Pacific Islands Forum Observer Mission to the 2015 Autonomous Region of Bougainville Election. I was a member of the 2017 the Melanesian Spearhead Group Election Observation Mission for the Vanuatu snap election. I was a member of the Commonwealth Election Observation Mission to Tonga. I participated in election visitor programs to Australia, New Zealand, India and Republic of Korea. I have held executive board positions in the Association of World Electoral Bodies (AWEB), Commonwealth Electoral Network and the Pacific Island Australia New Zealand Electoral Administrators network (PIANZIA). I commissioned the development of the first ever compulsory curriculum for secondary students on elections in Fiji. It was first delivered in 2018 and has been delivered continuously every year since then.
The FEO has been conducting Trade Union elections since 2015. During the course of my tenure, I worked closely with the Australian and New Zealand Governments and their respective electoral bodies. I also worked closely with a number technical consultants from these countries to develop and enhance electoral practices in Fiji. I maintained close working relations with such technical consultants and they also took up Deputy Supervisor roles for the elections.
In resigning from my Constitutional Office, I had highlighted several critical issues that I now need to highlight publicly:
1. The obvious conflicts of interest of 3 members of the COC. This, however, appears to have been disregarded by COC to my prejudice. The complaint lacked any substance and ought to have been rightfully dismissed.
2. As a bipartisan constitutional body, COC’s fundamental duty is to uphold the principles of natural justice and fairness in dealing with any matter that comes before it.
3. The COC did not consult or inform the Electoral Commission of the matter as is required, and instead decided to leave the FEO to be operationally managed by Directors.
4. I am also aware that the Attorney-General has directly held meetings with officers of the Fijian Elections Office, despite the FEO being an independent institution. This is unprecedented as anything to do with the FEO ought to be done through the Supervisor of Elections. No other Attorney-General since I have been in the Fijian Elections Office has ever held such meetings.
These meetings took place without any form of written correspondence or official request. While I was suspended on a Complaint from political parties in relation to certain court cases, I was surprised when Director Operations, Anaseini Senimoli (who had already met the Attorney General in my absence) informed me on 19 January 2023 that she cannot speak to me due to the Tribunal investigation.
5. The Supervisor of Elections is also the Secretary to the Electoral Commission. The information and documents of the Electoral Commission are under the sole custody of the Secretary and his secretariat team. Staff of the FEO do not have access to the deliberations of the Electoral Commission. The FEO, through the SoE reports to the Electoral Commission and is bound by the decisions of the Electoral Commission. The minutes and records of the Electoral Commission are confidential and not available to FEO staff or any other person to readily access. Only those with legal authority are entitled to access the same.
It is my fear that during my suspension, there has been a pillaging of all confidential documents by staff of the FEO which ought to have remained confidential.
6. In my letter of suspension, His Excellency, the President had directed me to hand over all my official property to Director Corporate, Sanjeshwar Ram. It was expected that all such equipment will be retained safely until the process concluded.
On 24 January 2023, my official phone was switched on and the ‘Viber’ application was installed. Sanjeshwar Ram had either himself or through a third party attempted to access confidential information from my official device.
Rightfully, the equipment should have been handed to the Electoral Commission who are my supervisory body.
7. My Executive Assistant was directed to clear my office despite the fact that I remained the Supervisor of Elections, albeit suspended. I had not been removed from my position, and there was no need to clear my office.
On 25 January 2023, staff from the FEO delivered my personal items to my house.
I was aggrieved to find that verses of the Holy Quran which were hung in my office were placed in a box containing shoes.
The manner in which my office was cleared was a sign that staff of the FEO had been told that I would not be returning to my position.
Ana Mataiciwa was then appointed Acting Supervisor of Elections, and which acting appointment was made without consultation with the Electoral Commission as required under section 76(4) of the Fijian Constitution.
There are various issues that I have highlighted above which I will also bring to FICAC’s attention in due course through complaints against relevant persons
TRAVEL BANS: Successive Coupists and Governments have used travel bans as the most effective weapon to stop those on their radar.
Below, an extract from suspended Chief Justice Daniel Fatiaki's affidavit before the Fiji High Court 2007 (copy with Fijileaks).
Later, Fatiaki, through his lawyers Munro Leys and Howard Lawyers, cut a deal with the former Attorney-General Aiyaz Khaiyum, accepted $275,000 in golden handshake, withdrew his case, got his Fiji passport, and ran away from Fiji to become Chief Justice of Vanuatu. He is entitled to all benefits as a former Chief Justice of Fiji.
The travel bans imposed by Bainimarama-Khaiyum after the 2006 coup is merely a continuation from the 1987 Rabuka coups. |