The Magistrates Court has emphasized that the offense of abuse of office is intended to protect the integrity of Government Institutions from corruption and misuse of power.
Anirudha Bansod, the former CEO of Post Fiji, has received a sentence of one year and six months in prison for submitting false confidentiality and conflict of interest declarations related to the tender for the design, development, and implementation of the Post Fiji Mobile Application.
In delivering the sentence, Magistrate Yogesh Prasad stated that it is crucial for the public interest and deterrence that he will not suspend Bansod’s sentence.
Bansod was found to have falsely claimed he had no connections with Technobase IT Solutions Limited while he was actually aware of the bidding company. Magistrate Prasad noted that Bansod had severely violated the trust placed in him to act in the best interests of Post Fiji Limited.
The court highlighted that communication records between Bansod and Vaibhav Deshpande, the Director of Technobase IT Solutions, through WhatsApp messages indicated that sensitive information regarding a government enterprise was improperly shared with the company in India.
It was also noted in court that Technobase IT Solutions was ultimately awarded the contract to provide e-wallet services over other competitors.
Magistrate Prasad pointed out that Bansod had abused the trust of a government enterprise, which granted him authority to make prudent corporate decisions in the company’s best interest, but he acted unlawfully and arbitrarily.
While there were mitigating factors considered, including Bansod being a first-time offender who pleaded guilty and expressed remorse, the severity of his actions warranted the sentence.
Defense attorney Devanesh Sharma has not yet decided whether to appeal the sentence.