Former Post Fiji Chief Executive Peni Mau this morning appeared in the Magistrates Court for the mention on four separate charges laid against him by FICAC.

FICAC this morning asked for a two day trial as they have 12 prosecution witnesses in the case where Mau and Dhirendra Pratap are charged with one count of extortion and one count of Abuse of Office, which has been consolidated.

This incident saw Mau allegedly approve the payment for reward of duty to Pratap. The matter was adjourned to the 14th and 15th of April, 2009.

In the second case where Mau, Pratap and former Post Fiji Chairman Mahendra Mothibhai Patel are charged with two counts of Abuse of Office, one count of extortion, one of Aiding and abetting in the abuse of office and one charge false certificate by public office, FICAC said they needed a three day trial as they also have 12 prosecution witnesses. The matter is adjourned to 12th to the 14th of May, 2009.

FICAC also said they needed a two day trial in the case where Mau had allegedly approved the payment of $75,000 for the purchase of an external Seiko Clock without following proper tender procedures. Patel had allegedly allowed the purchase of this Seiko clock without stated his interest and relationship with the company that he owned. The matter is adjourned to the 25th and 26th of May, 2009.

The fourth case where Vinesh Kumar and Mau had allegedly conspired together and processed a bonus payment to Kumar and where the two were charged with one count of Conspiracy to Defraud, one count of Abuse of Office and one count of Extortion, FICAC said they had seven witnesses for the prosecution and the case has been adjourned to the 23rd and 24th April, 2009.