Three former executives of Post Fiji Limited handed prison sentences

The three former executives of Post Fiji Limited, Mahendra Patel, Peni Mau and Dhirendra Pratap have all been handed prison sentences by High Court Judge Justice Prabhaharan Kumararatne.

Patel has been sentenced to 12 months imprisonment.

He was found guilty of one count of abuse of office.

Patel’s bench warrant has been extended.

His sentence will start from the day of his arrest.

65-year-old Peni Mau will spend the next 9 months behind bars after he was found guilty of one count of Extortion by a Public Officer.

57-year-old Dhirendra Pratap has been sentenced to 6 months imprisonment.

Pratap has been found guilty of one count of giving false information to a Public Officer.

Justice Kumararatne said the three have committed serious offences and custodial sentences are warranted.

The High Court Judge also said that the courts deal with corruption cases very seriously and the conduct of the three people shows a breach of trust placed on them by Post Fiji.

Justice Kumararatne also said that the three did not express remorse.

Patel’s lawyer, Hamendra Nagin had earlier said that Patel is 74‑years‑old, is a diabetic and has an eye condition which needs constant medical treatment which is available in Sydney, and as such, his client is not in Fiji.

The court heard that on the 29th of June, 2006 while being employed in the public service as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Post Fiji Limited in abuse of the authority of that office, Patel did an arbitrary act by extending the contract of the Managing Director of Post Fiji, Peni Mau for a term of three years without the approval of the Board.

The court also heard that between 26th and 27th of February 2007 Mau while being employed in the public service as Managing Director of Post Fiji accepted a promise of a reward as gratuity payment of $24,000 for his early exit from employment with Post Fiji Limited which was beyond his proper pay and emoluments.

According to FICAC, Mau received a net pay of $122,489.31 including a gratuity payment of $24,000.

Justice Kumararatne said that if the contract had not been extended than Mau would have received only four months compensation however he received compensation for two years four months which he was not entitled to.

The Judge also said that four board meetings were held after the contract was extended however it was never discussed.

Pratap while being employed as a public service issued a letter to the members of the Finance Special Internal Audit team on 19th April 2007 falsely stating that the Board of Directors of Post Fiji Limited had passed a resolution on the 8th March 2007, to give Peni Mau two years and four month’s salary plus $24,000 gratuity on his early exit from employment.