Trial date for former Post Fiji Execs vacated

The trial in relation to the three former executives of Post Fiji, Mahendra Patel, Peni Mau and Dhirendra Pratap will not go ahead in September.

This is after the Suva High Court vacated the trial date against the three following an application by Mau’s lawyer Hamendra Nagin this morning.

Nagin made the application to vacate the trial date until the Appeals Court made a decision on the validity of the charge of abuse of office in which Patel and Mau were handed prison sentences.

A trial date was set for the 5th to the 23rd of September where Patel is charged with two counts of abuse office and two counts of conspiracy to defraud.

Mau is charged with extortion by public officer while Pratap is charged with  Aiding and Abetting and False Certificate by Public Officers.

Nagin said that the Court of Appeal decision will have a bearing on the case before the High court.

A similar application was made by Patel’s lawyer Parvesh Sharma.

Judge Justice Sitabaram Pillai Thurairaja adjourned the matter to 5th September to fix a trial date.


Story by: Praneeta Deo