The current Manager Logistics for Post Fiji and former Procurement Officer, Luke Narara has revealed while giving evidence in the Mahendra Patel and Peni Mau High Court trial that tenders were not called to purchase the external clock for the Post Fiji building in 2003.
Narara told the court that the company could have benefitted by following the tender process and calling for competitive prices as other companies such as Brij Lal's and Tappoo's could have supplied the required clock and the entire process portrayed a bad image of the company.
Mau's defense counsel Devinesh Sharma while cross examining the witness highlighted that the phase two of the refurbishment of the Post Fiji building was approved by the Board at $800,000 which included the purchase of the clock as per the approved designs.
He then went on to read sections of the Logistics Manual which stated that a tender process does not need to be followed for certain capital works which included construction works of any description.
The witness stated that he did not see that before but eventually agreed.
Sharma also highlighted that the manual has a particular section which states clear instances where a bid or tender process is not required.
The manual states that bids or tenders are not required in emergency cases, in cases where the duration becomes a critical factor other than cost or in instances where goods or services cannot be obtained from any alternative source.
Sharma stressed that the issue of calling for tenders was not set in stone and questioned the witness again on whether his client, Peni Mau had the authority to approve payments upto $100,000 without board approval or without a tender process.
After much reluctance, Narara said yes that he did.
The Defence counsel then questioned Narara on why he did not raise any objections to the directive given to purchase the clock if he was so adamant that a tender should have been called.
Narara maintained that due to his position at the time he just followed orders as he could lose his job.
Sharma stated that Narara did not raise any questions because he knew there was nothing wrong in the directive issued to purchase the external clock.
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.
The case continues.
Story by: Roneel Lal
