10 Feb 2015

Fiji Speaker rules on claims of misleading parliament

10:50 am on 10 February 2015

The Speaker of Fiji's Parliament has ruled that the country's Attorney General did not deliberately mislead Parliament over the Fiji TV Rugby Sevens dispute.

Finance Minister, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, announces Fiji's 2014-15 budget

Fiji's Attorney General, Aiyaz Sayed Khaiuym, was accused of lying to Parliament over his alleged intervention in the Fiji TV Rugby Sevens dispute. Photo: Supplied

Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum has been accused of lying to the public and to the Parliament, denying he intervened and abused his power by directing the Fiji TV board to sign a letter to World Rugby.

The letter told World Rugby that Fiji TV favours a move to share the Sevens Rugby feed with the public broadcaster, FBC.

Emails shared by sacked executives show that Mr Sayed Khaiyum threatened the board they will have to resign if they don't sign the letter.

A former board member says the subsequent sub-licensing agreement with FBC was also completed without board approval.

The current director of Fiji TV, Nouzab Fareed, says he wrote the letter and there was no Government interference.

Yesterday the Speaker of Parliament, Doctor Jiko Luveni, ruled the Attorney General did not deliberately mislead Parliament.