Three former senior executives of Post Fiji Limited have been charged with alleged corrupt practices by FICAC and appeared before Suva Magistrate Aminiasi Katonivualiku earlier this afternoon.
Former Post Fiji Chairman, Mahendra Patel is facing two counts of abuse of office. The first count deals with Patel allegedly extending former Post Fiji Managing Director, Peni Mau's contract on 29th June, 2006, for three years without the authority of the board of directors.
The second count deals with Patel allegedly approving a payment of $24,000 to Peni Mau after Mau was asked to retire on the 8th of March last year.
Mau is charged with one count of extortion by a public officer.
The former Post Fiji Managing Director allegedly received $24,000 from Mahendra Patel and a further 38 thousand 813 dollars and 32 cents for FNPF payments.
Former General Manager Finance of Post Fiji, Dhirendra Pratap has been charged with two counts of abuse of office.
Pratap has been charged with aiding and abetting abuse of office by allegedly approving the retirement payment to Peni Mau.
He is also charged with issuing a false certificate on the 19th of April 2007. It allegedly dealt with an authorization for Mau to be given a salary for two years after retirement.
The three have been released on $2,000 bail with Patel to report to the Namaka Police Station every second Saturday between 6am to 6pm and not to interfere with police investigations while Mau and Pratap are to report to the Central Police Station every second Saturday between 6am to 6pm and also not to interfere with investigations.
Magistrate Katonivualiku had resorted to the bail conditions after stating that FICAC's proposed bail conditions were too harsh and adding that everyone is equal before the law.
FICAC's bail conditions included surrendering all their travel documents, for Mahendra Patel to surrender his airport access cards and for the three to report to the FICAC offices in their respective areas and not to the police station.
The case has been adjourned to the 10th of April.
Post Fiji Ltd trio charged with alleged corrupt practices
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