Fiji's Supervisor of Elections Mohammed Saneem Photo: VNP / Daniela Maoate-Cox
Fiji's former elections supervisor Mohammed Saneem is under investigation by the anti-corruption agency for alleged abuse of office and has been stopped from fleeing the country.
The Fijian Elections Office (FEO) said Saneem is alleged to have "on numerous occasions…unlawfully authorised payments of sitting allowances" to members of the Electoral Commission (EC) and has been referred to the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC).
The FEO said the Constitutional Offices Commission had clarified to Mr Saneem that the allowance for the chairperson and members of the EC remained at the same rate of $FJ500 per person, per meeting.
Saneem, however, had continued instruct for allowances to be paid to the Commission's members for attending events other than meetings, including social functions.
According to Section 5 of the Electoral Act of 2014, meetings held by the Electoral Commission are to be determined by the chairperson or a majority of the members of the Commission.
The Electoral Commission could also hold meetings virtually.
The FEO said the former elections boss - who was suspended last month and resigned this week - "continued to deviate from this and constantly gave instructions for payment of $FJ500 allowance to the Electoral Commission members."
Attorney-general Siromi Turaga confirmed to fijivillage news that Saneem was trying to board a flight to Australia on Friday morning but was stopped by border officials as he is now under investigation by FICAC.