The former CEO of Post Fiji Pte Limited, Anirudha Bansod, has been sentenced to one year and six months in prison for abuse of office. The sentencing took place on Monday at the Suva Magistrate’s Court, presided over by Magistrate Yogesh Prasad.
Bansod was found guilty of submitting a false declaration of confidentiality and conflict of interest during the tender process for the design and development of the Post Fiji Mobile Application. The contract was awarded to TechnoBase IT Solutions PVT Limited, an Indian firm with personal ties to Bansod.
The court revealed that Bansod communicated with Vaibhav Deshpande of TechnoBase IT Solutions via WhatsApp, sharing confidential information that contributed to the company’s success in obtaining the e-Wallet services contract.
Although Bansod was a first-time offender and expressed remorse, his admission of guilt came late in the prosecutor’s case. Magistrate Prasad emphasized that the offense compromised the integrity of government institutions and decided against suspending the sentence.
Bansod has 28 days to appeal the ruling at the High Court in Suva.