Fiji Broadcasting Corporation executives win two-year legal battle

A protracted two-year legal battle involving former Fijian Broadcasting Corporation (FBC) Chief Executive Officer Riyaz Sayed-Khaiyum and current Chief Financial Officer Vimlesh Sagar has reached a temporary conclusion. The Fijian Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) filed a nolle prosequi in court, effectively discontinuing the proceedings against both executives.

“

The whole thing was very frivolous right from the start, but unfortunately it put my family, my children, my wife, my parents, through a lot of trauma. And I’m just glad it’s over and then we just move on to the next one.

For Sayed-Khaiyum, the end of the case brings a sense of relief after enduring what he described as over two years of "unnecessary legal pressure." He shared that the case inflicted significant emotional strain and trauma on his family, including his wife, children, and parents. "The whole thing was very frivolous right from the start," Sayed-Khaiyum stated, expressing gladness that it is over and that they can now "move on to the next one."

Sayed-Khaiyum also pointed out the financial burden the lengthy proceedings placed on taxpayers. He hopes such "nonsense" does not reoccur for anyone, emphasizing that it represents a waste of time, resources, and money for all involved. Vimlesh Sagar echoed similar sentiments, noting the considerable mental stress and the toll the process took on him and his family.

“

I just hope this sort of nonsense doesn’t reoccur for anyone. Because ultimately it’s a waste of time and resources and money, not only for me, but for the taxpayers as well.

Despite the ordeal, Sagar maintained his trust in the legal process, stating, "We all got to trust the process, we all got to be honest with our intentions, and the best part is integrity." The discontinuation of the case also led to the lifting of bail conditions for both executives, including travel restrictions, allowing them greater freedom of movement.

“

The amount of mental stress, the amount of the process that we have been through, it cannot be depreciated in accounting terms, but it is a process. We all got to trust the process, we all got to be honest with our intentions, and the best part is integrity. We do it right, even when nobody is watching.