Bench warrant issued for Mahendra Patel

A bench warrant has been issued against the former chairman of Post Fiji Limited Mahendra Patel who is in Australia undergoing eye surgery.

His lawyer Hamendra Nagin yesterday filed an application with the court to excuse his client today.

He filed the submission in the Suva High Court this morning which was dismissed by Judge Justice Kumaratnam.

The Judge said that Patel has violated his bail condition and that he was instructed to be present in court today as he was missing from the last court sitting.

Nagin produced the doctor’s letter which said that Patel cannot travel as the pressure could affect his eyes.

Judge Kumaratnam said that he will issue a bench warrant but will consider Nagin’s submission again in Patel’s next court appearance.

The two former executives, Peni Mau and Dhirendra Pratap, were present in court with their lawyers.

Patel is charged with one count of abuse of office and it is alleged that on 29th June 2006, whilst being the chairman of Post Fiji, did an arbitrary act and extended the contract of the Managing Director of Post Fiji Peni Mau for a term of three years without the approval of the board of directors.

Mau is charged with extortion by a public officer and it is alleged that on the 26th and 27th February 2007, while being employed as the managing director, accepted a promise of a reward, a gratuity payment for his early retirement with Post Fiji which was beyond his proper pay.

 
Pratap is charged with abuse of office and it is alleged that on 19th April 2007, issued a letter to the Ministry of Finance Special Internal Audit team falsely stating that the board of directors of Post Fiji Limited had passed a resolution on 8th March 2007, to give Mau 2 years and 4 months’ salary and $24,000 gratuity on his early exit from employment.

Pratap is also charged with giving false information to a public servant.

The case has been adjourned to 21st June.

Story by: Praneeta Prakash