Lawyer withdraws application for recusal of judge and retrial

Former Post Fiji Managing Director Peni Mau’s defense lawyer Devinesh Sharma has today withdrawn his applications for the recusal of the judge and a retrial.

Sharma withdrew the applications before presiding Judge Justice Daniel Goundar in the last hour.

Sharma is now expected to file leave to appeal and bail pending appeal for his client in the Fiji Court of Appeal sometime next week.

It has been confirmed that Sharma will seek leave to appeal Mau’s conviction.

Sharma said in court yesterday that architect and FICAC witness Adish Naidu was negotiating with Motibhai on the Seiko clock on his own accord and there is no evidence that Mau was involved in the discussions.

While sentencing Mau and Mahendra Patel yesterday, Justice Goundar stated that the charges they faced justify prison sentences.

Patel has been sentenced to 12 months imprisonment while Mau has been sentenced to 9 months imprisonment.

The judge said both Mau and Patel express no remorse, adding that those who hold high public office must realize that the institutional procedures exist for good reasons, and those who blatantly disregard these procedures at their whims must be deterred.


Story by: Vijay Narayan