A former board member of Post Fiji Limited Joseva Kamikamica today maintained that the Seiko clock installed at Post Fiji was a gift from Motibhai.

Upon cross examination by former Chairman Mahendra Patel’s lawyer Hamendra Nagin, Kamikamica agreed that he cannot remember that the clock was installed in January 2004.

He said he can only recall that after a board meeting he heard in a conversation that former Post Fiji Chairman Mahendra Patel was talking to someone about the clock.

He said he cannot remember who else was involved in the conversation as there were a lot of people.

Upon questioning by defence lawyers, Kamikamica agreed this conversation was not recorded in the minutes of the meeting as it was only casual talk.

The witness also denied seeing any plan of the proposed refurbishment of Post Fiji in 2002 when the copy of plans was showed to him.

He added that this is the first time he has seen the plans.

Nagin asked whether he knew that during Mahendra Patel’s time that Post Fiji’s annual turnover increased from $10 million to $37 million and in 2005 it went up to $40 million.

Kamikamica replied he cannot recall what was in the company’s Annual report.

Upon asking by Nagin, Kamikamica agreed that being Post Fiji’s Managing Director, Peni Mau had to take board’s approval before any purchase though he had the authority to purchase items to the limit of $10,000.
 
Mau’s lawyer Devinesh Sharma asked Kamikamica whether he remembers the issue of purchasing the clock from Motibhai as it was continuously highlighted in the board papers from 2003 to February 2004.

He replied that he saw the papers in detail today.

The witness also accepted that it’s also difficult to remember what happened in 2003.

The case continues this afternoon where another former board member Lute Powell is giving evidence.

Mahendra Patel and Peni Mau are both charged with one count each of abuse of office.

It is alleged that Mau approved the purchase of an external Seiko clock for $75,000 from Prouds Fiji without following proper procedures and without the approval of the Post Fiji Board.

Patel is alleged to have allowed the purchase of the Seiko Clock from Prouds, a company owned by him and allegedly failed to disclose his interest and relationship with the company.


Story by: Ronal Deo