Further charges have been laid against the former Post Fiji board chairman Mahendra Patel by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption today and he appeared in the Suva Magistrates Court this afternoon.

Patel was taken in for questioning by FICAC earlier today and was charged with one count of abuse of office and one count of conspiracy to defraud.

It is alleged that Patel between April 1st 2003 and February 29th 2004 whilst being employed in the public service as chairman of Post Fiji, in the course of or in relation to his public office and in abuse of that office, directed to be done an arbitrary act by allowing the purchase of an external Seiko clock from Prouds Company which belongs to him and that he failed to disclose his interest in the relationship with Prouds for the purpose of gain, namely to benefit and give an unfair advantage to the said, Prouds causing prejudice to the rights of Post Fiji Limited.

On the second count of conspiracy to defraud, it is alleged that Patel and another, the former managing director of Post Fiji Limited with intent to defraud Post Fiji conspired together to but the external clock for $75,0000 without being authorized to do so.

Patel has been released on a $1000 cash bond this afternoon and the case is adjourned to May 23rd.

It was established in the special audit report into Post Fiji late last year that the Seiko clock cost more than $80,000.

Patel was earlier charged with two counts of abuse of office and also pleaded not guilty to the charges.