The Personal Assistant of the former Post Fiji General Manager, Annie Sue took the stand this morning as the trial of the former Chairman Mahendra Patel and General Manager Peni Mau continued in the Suva High Court.

Upon questioning by FICAC lawyer Nawarathne Marasinghe, Sue informed the court that when she started work at Post Fiji in 2000, Mahendra Patel was the Chairman and that the Higher Salaries Commission determined the salaries of the higher executives and that the commission also determined the salary of the Managing Director.

Sue was then shown the Contract of Employment of Mau dated 5th March 2002 which was signed by Mau, Patel and the Human Resources Manager.

She was also shown the board papers and minutes from the years 2000 to 2004 and the 2002 board papers showed that Mau had recommended $1.3 million to upgrade the General Post Office.

Sue confirmed that the papers were compiled by her.

Another set of papers dated April 2002 was shown where it stated that the board was being invited to approve additional capital of $800,000 for the GPO project.

In 2003, the board had approved to recommend the additional capital of $800,000.

Marasinghe then asked her on whether there was anything about the purchase of a clock, on which Sue said that there was nothing mentioned about the clock.

Sue was shown another document, a minute book dated 5th March 2002 on which it was written that the board had approved the company to apply a loan of $1.3 million from a commercial bank for the renovation of the General Post Office.

 
She also revealed in court that in the board papers dated 19th February, it was stated that a payment of $66,666.67 had been made to Motibhai for the purchase of a Seiko clock.

Sue is currently being cross examined by Defence lawyer, Devinesh Sharma.

Patel and Mau are both charged with one count each of abuse of office.

It is alleged that Mau approved the purchase of an external Seiko clock for $75,000 from Prouds Fiji without following proper procedures and without the approval of the Post Fiji Board.

Patel is alleged to have allowed the purchase of the Seiko Clock from Prouds, a company owned by him and allegedly failed to disclose his interest and relationship with the company.


Story by: Praneeta Deo and Ronald Deo