FORMER Post Fiji chairman Mahendra Patel was convicted of a count of abuse of office by the High Court in Suva yesterday.
Former managing director Tevita Peni Mau was convicted of extortion by a public servant while former finance manager Dhirendra Pratap was found guilty of giving false information.
Patel was found to have extended Mau’s contract on June 29, 2006, for a further three years without the approval of the Post Fiji board.
Justice Prabaharan Kumararatnam said there was no board paper that suggested the extension of the contract was discussed and there was also no evidence of a board resolution in the same regard.
Mau was found guilty of asking for two years and four months of salary and gratuity payment of $24,000 which he wasn’t entitled to.
Justice Kumararatnam said there was no new contract drawn up by the human resources of Post Fiji for Mau.
He said Mau’s request were based on the extension of the contract by Patel.
The court found that Pratap had given false information to the special audit team of the Finance Ministry in relation to payout to Mau.
