Recommendations have been made to investigate many tenders issued by Post Fiji Limited in 2005 and 2006 by former senior managers without following proper procedures.

The Finance Ministry internal audit report states that tenders for maintenance and painting of Post Offices in which selected companies were invited. It has also been revealed that companies invited to tender were not located where the maintenance work was to be carried out, for example, for works at the Post Office in Labasa, companies in Narere, Nasinu were invited.

The report states that a search made at the Registrar of Companies by the audit team reveals that some companies invited to submit quotations were owned by single individuals operating from their homes and in other cases, the companies named could not be located.

It has also been highlighted that the brother of a senior former manager of Post Fiji requested the company to purchase the vehicle he won from a competition, for 37 thousand dollars. On the 19th of December last year, the senior manager supported that the company should purchase the vehicle even though the Nissan Navara 4 wheel drive was not actually needed by the company.

The report also reveals that a former senior manager who was asked to resign in February this year, claimed for 10 thousand 412 dollars in per diem to cover for his medical review although he is covered under Medical Insurance for such expenditure.

It said from 2005 to 2006, Post Fiji purchased a total of 3.292 million dollars worth of stationary from one company, and most of these purchases were not subjected to the proper and transparent tender process required under the company's procurement policy.

Concerns have also been raised in the audit report about the terms of contract of senior executives which were not approved by the Higher Salaries Commission. Under their contracts, the senior managers company vehicles used by them are transferred to their names after 5 years without charge, on zero written down value.

The audit states that the practice is unique to Post Fiji.

A high degree of nepotism was also being practiced by the senior executives of Post Fiji Limited. The Finance Ministry audit reveals that personnel records show that relatives including wives, sons, brothers, nephews, even girlfriends were appointed to various positions.

Meanwhile Former Chairman of Post Fiji Limited Mahendra Patel will take legal action in relation to the allegations levelled against him in the Internal Audit Unit report.

Speaking to Village News, Patel's Lawyer Hamendra Nagin said his client's name has been tarnished by the unsubstantiated claims in the Audit report.

Meanwhile Peni Mau, who was the Managing Director of Post Fiji at the time highlighted in the report, is yet to comment on the matter.