The sudden reappearance on the national scene of the fugitive “Chairman Emeritus” of the Motibhai Group, Mahendra “Mac” Patel, (see previous article) has given fresh resonance to an obscure event 37 years ago that goes to the heart of his relationship with the Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka. Because soon after Rabuka’s two coups of 1987, “Mac” Patel presented the man who’d destroyed democracy in Fiji with a solid gold Rolex watch.
The Motibhais of Ba have long been the Fijian agents for the Swiss-made Rolex brand – arguably the most prestigious and sought after watches in the world. And the watch that “Mac” Patel gave the then Lieutenant Colonel and newly-minted dictator was said to have been the “best of the best” – a Rolex “Day-Date” in solid yellow gold that has become the watch of choice of the world’s movers and shakers, including a long list of dictators.
Why did the Motibhais give Fiji’s coup leader a watch that even today, sells for more than $F100,000 on the thriving second-hand global market for Rolexes? It is a question that is as relevant now as it was back then. Because like some jack-in-the box, “Mac” Patel has suddenly reappeared on the national scene with his article in Saturday’s Fiji Times arguing for the 2013 Constitution to be declared null and void – siding with Sitiveni Rabuka and the Coalition and using his family’s ownership of the Fiji Times as a vehicle to support the government’s drive to change the Constitution.
The inescapable conclusion is that the Motibhais gave the then RFMF coup leader his Rolex to curry favour with him. Grubsheet understands from multiple sources that it had become something of a habit for “Mac” Patel either to give watches or offer watches to those he was trying to influence. Some in high office in Fiji said “no” on the simple basis that accepting such an expensive gift would automatically create a sense of obligation. These clearly weren’t acts of charity and like the Chinese 37 years on, the Motibhai family would have naturally expected something in return for their largesse.
But Sitiveni Rabuka was in the ranks of those who said “yes” – a military officer and coup leader on a relatively modest salary keen to be the beneficiary of a gift that no ordinary mortal would ever be able to afford – “all that glitters is gold” wrapped around his wrist. Except that Rabuka had no intention of wearing something that would be so immediately obvious and ostentatious, glittering in the Fiji sun, and drawing attention to his inappropriate relationship with “Mac” Patel. So he discreetly put his new Rolex on the market among the other movers and shakers at the time, intent on turning it into cash.
How does Grubsheet know this story? Because I was specifically asked by a third party whether I would be interested in buying the watch. I was a Nine Network television reporter at the time and had been in Fiji to cover the 1987 coups, securing the first interview with Rabuka after he seized power and detained the Bavadra government. Presumably I was identified as someone who might have had the means to afford a gold Rolex. Alas, it was well beyond my own means. But there are people in Suva today who will remember this prize item being hawked around discreetly by someone who then, as now, should have known that he should never have accepted such a gift.
Who eventually bought it and at what price? Grubsheet doesn’t know. But there are people in Suva who do and I invite them to contact me with whatever information they might have. Below is what a solid gold Rolex looks like. Seen one on any local wrist?
In a strange coincidence, this stock image of a “Day-Date” from the same period just happens to show the date of Sitiveni Rabuka’s first coup – May 14 1987.
Why is this story relevant today? Because Sitiveni Rabuka is again Prime Minister and Mahendra “Mac” Patel is still eager to curry favour with him. As Grubsheet reported yesterday, “Mac” Patel has long been a fugitive from justice, living in exile in Sydney and wanted in Fiji for having absconded during the proceedings against him for allegedly having used his position as Chair of Post Fiji to buy a new clock for the GPO Tower in Suva from his own business.
It was a Seiko, not a Rolex. But “Mac” Patel is still to face justice having been charged with abuse of office. And now after more than a decade of silence, he is suddenly back on the scene writing an opinion piece in his own newspaper supporting one of Sitiveni Rabuka’s treasured priorities – to change the hated 2013 Constitution that provides for a common and equal citizenry, a common identity and a secular state – all of them contrary to Rabuka’s original agenda in 1987 to establish indigenous supremacy in Fiji and declare a Christian state.
We don’t know precisely the current state of the legal proceedings against “Mac” Patel. As with his fellow fugitive – the soon-to-be-installed Tui Nayau, Ratu Tevita Mara – Patel long had a bench warrant issued for his arrest for also fleeing the country to escape criminal proceedings. We learned in the case of Roko Ului when he suddenly returned from exile in Tonga last year that his bench warrant had since expired. And that after the suspension of Christopher Pryde as DPP, his successors in their acting roles simply didn’t make fresh applications for Mara’s arrest, clearing him to return from exile unmolested when his alleged co-conspirator for plotting against Frank Bainimarama, Pita Driti, had been convicted and served a prison sentence.
What is “Mac” Patel’s current status? Is he still wanted for absconding from justice and fleeing into padded exile in Sydney in a luxurious eastern suburbs high rise? Was his article in the Fiji Times yesterday supporting constitutional change – to declare it “null and void” – an attempt to curry favour with the Coalition to enable him to emulate Roko Ului? Or has he already quietly returned to Fiji having been given the same “nod and a wink” green light as Tevita Mara to escape the long arm of the law? Answers please. Because this goes to the heart of the Coalition’s credibility and its respect for the rule of law, which has already been battered by successive constitutional breaches.
The Rolex saga from 37 years ago also goes to the heart of Sitiveni Rabuka’s credibility as Prime Minister. In accepting the gift from “Mac” Patel in the first place, that credibility has already been compromised. Did Rabuka not realise at the time that he was putting himself in a position of obligation to the Motibhais? Was it appropriate conduct for a senior military officer to accept such a fabulously expensive item? And more pertinently, what obligation does it place on him now to turn a blind eye to “Mac” Patel’s fugitive status and the business interests of the Motibhai family more generally?
Question: Has Mahendra”Mac” Patel made any representation to the Prime Minister – as he did with Frank Bainimarama (see our story yesterday) – to be able to return to Fiji from exile unmolested?
Question: Has the Coalition government – as it did with Roko Ului – given permission for “Mac” Patel” to return to Fiji by abandoning the prosecution against him and not insisting that he be arrested on arrival?
As sure as the passage of time, the Rolex saga has come back to haunt the Prime Minister. The Fijian people deserve answers, not only as to whether “Mac” Patel is a crook in misusing his position in charge of a public utility to benefit his own company but whether the Sitiveni Rabuka is a crook who has been compromised by a dirty little secret from 37 years ago.
Time waits for no-one, as the old saying goes. Tick, tick, tick. (Though Rolexes are famously silent)
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The latest image of the Prime Minister arriving at the Pacific Islands Forum meeting in Tonga flanked by two fellow coup-makers – Ratu Inoke Kubuabola ( now High Commissioner to NZ) and Filipo Tarakinikini (Permanent Representative at the UN)
Yet another instance of the more things change in Fiji, the more they stay the same.
And to think that we were promised change!
Thank you for clarifying, in some detail, the circumstances relating to Mac Patel’s absence from Fiji for the past decade. Many of us had assumed he was merely being hounded by the previous regime, but as you rightly observed the law should apply to everyone.
Your last picture of Rabuka with fellow coup makers in Tonga caught my attention. It underlines how the coupist Rabuka continues to rely on his fellow conspirators. There are so many others now with cushy Government roles, of course at the expense of other career civil servants and meritorious individuals yearning for such positions. Of course all the blather from PSC and his government on merit-based appointments is complete lies. Of course he is allowing his Coalition Ministers like Agni, Biman and Charan (ABC) to do the same. Biman handpicked Jagnath Sami and Charan, Nitya and Binesh at FSC, and Agni’s chosen advisors for the Fijian seasonal workers (aided by Ajay Amrit in Canberra) is already showing disastrous consequences.
It is Rabuka showing a complete disrespect to the mainly Indian community who suffered at the hands of Rabuka’s coups. Trying the facade of Truth & Reconciliation just doesn’t cut it in the face of blatant actions.
Do we need to go any further to understand the reasons for the huge erosion of skills which Fiji needs. Not that the current mob are too worried. They are happy as long as their people are in control and they continue to get the AUD to keep afloat.
Come on bro. Lets give theTruth & Reconciliation Commission a “fair shake of the sauce bottle” as the Aussies would say. We need to grasp all opportunities to move forward.
It is not astonishing at all that ordinary as well as expensive gifts are offered to those in power – for what can only be favours expected in return.
Offerings and gifts are offered to appease gods to attain prosperity of all kinds, health and wealth. Surely if bribing the gods to get something back is not spared, what is a mere man that would not be spared from lavish gifts of cash and kind to extract favours and blessings worth exponentially more than the prasadam or tokens offered!
Not only shame and scorn but due process of the law and prosecution on those with abhorrent corrupt selfish behaviour.
But long live to the genuine Mother Theresas and Father Xxxxxxs.
I can see it coming – “but that was all in the past”!!!!!
What was given to Rambo is peanuts. What you should really investigate is how much was donated to Ratu Mara and his family.
There was a guy caught on film back in 2000 who had three Rolex’ on each arm
Pawned all of the rolexes and now likely back to living in abject poverty.
Ill gotten gains- theft, dishonesty , deceitful gains- will only take you so far. Stealing does not translate to generational wealth, rather becomes a generational curse.
Well, surprise, surprise even our erstwhile Finance Minister, Biman Prasad is in Tonga. Surely he is not there to lobby or should I say Libby? (pun intended) for his mate Professor Aluwalia? Or surely he can’t there just to sniff the roses or that of another famous flower of the Indus valley currently the topic of discussion on social media?
Don’t think so, I think it’s all about what they describe in spy schools as “filling the spaces,” — filling all spaces around a leader with people of certain orientation so that they steer his thinking in the “right” direction.
They been doing it with the senile Biden and it was done here successfully by Khaiyum filling all space around Godzilla now looking after the fish pond at the prison compound in Nasinu 9-miles
With Rabo fresh from an impressive brain-washing operation in China including a face-to/face meeting with Premier Xi Xi Ping and his equally impressive but sometimes irritating former Foreign minister, Wang Wei. Who can forget that bear hug Godzilla gave Wang Wri when he last visited Fiji, and their arm-in-arm photo shoot pose afterwards.?
The only thing that surpasses the so-called “Zelenski curse” passed on through a handshake Is a Wang Wei bear hug, ask Godzilla who is now serving time soon after that very public greeting in Suva.
There is much at stake at this Forum in Tonga that the powers that be can’t risk to see derailed, that’s why all the fire power is there to steer Rabuka in the “right” direction.
One of the big issue is the decision made by Rabuka and other Pacific leaders at the PALM Summit in Tokyo to endorse Klaus Schwab’s World Economic Forum agenda for Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDC) for the Pacific Islands.
Its one that would have received Xi Xi Ping’s approval as China was the first to introduce CBDCs which lie at the heart of their social credit scoring totalitarian communist system.
Combined with a national surveillance state that Inia Seruiratu had wanted to introduce in his time as Minister for National Security, and which is now being drip fed into existence by the Rabuka Government under the guise of the “War on Drugs,” all detractors tors will be on a watch list and penalised when they step out of line. Penalties will include having your bank accounts frozen, denial of access to public services, ban on overseas travel and even the death penalty that the Minister for Bonking and Weed and MK are advocating in a cut and paste straight from the Chinese Communist Party Handbook.
But Rabuka is a wily character and can still depart from his script when you least expect him to. Things will be a lot clearer next week.
Yes, I wonder what was given to Rabuka during his China escapade. A Rolex watch, no, too easily lost or sold.
More likely a tutorial on how to act as an agent for change (read China agenda) at the Tongan meeting. Aided and abetted by the likes of Biman (beggar in Chief for a broke Fiji) who will do whatever to remain Deputy PM and Minister for spending.
The charade painted by ‘ The Oracle’ seems close to the mark.
Then Rabuka and company (yes there is the ever close advisors and baggage handlers) will finally return to Fiji until the next junket to a far off place.
Gujarati’s source of all Fiji’s problems.
Yawn.
With Australia vying to gain Police collaboration across the Pacific to mark the territory, times will get very interesting for Fiji should Rabuka be too drive by self-interest, rather than strategic alliance.
PM flanked by 2 record breakers. One for remaining a government senior ever since 1987 and the other for the fastest tailor-made job application/appointment process.
Government appointments are only efficient when not done on merit, just like those recent ones at ODPP.
The bible salesman wrote the chameleons play book. He was the organizer who played a pivotal the Snake’s 1987 disaster.
The other one was 2000 coup master mover – a midfielder, to use a football parlance.
Deceitful, deceptive, a cunning basturd if ever there was one. He played both sides in 2000 negotiations when hostages lives were in real danger. Big liumuri.
He knows the rules of aage peeche better than any indo can ever dream off. Perhaps the talent was inherited by blood/heritage.
Now does a poor impression of trying to appear ‘distinguished’ minus the infamous mustache of 2000.
It’s great that you’ve applied the blowtorch to the “Rolexgate” saga, Graham. I’d like to point out to everyone that the giant Seiko was the obvious smoking gun here but there were more sinister, covert machinations occurring in Post Fiji that had Mac Patel’s name all over it.
Cases in point, all televisions in Post Fiji outlets were Sony branded, a Motibhai product. That may still be the case (I haven’t been inside an outlet in some years).
Even the stationery sold by Post Fiji were almost exclusively those for which Motibhais are the sole suppliers. Uniball pens are a classic example.
Now these started in the mid to late 90s, when Rolex Rambo was PM, and Post Fiji had recently been privatised from the former Post and Telecom.
The person who was at the helm of Post Fiji during these shananigans was Peni Mau. Mau also hired his son into an executive role. Was this ever investigated? I don’t think so.
Can it get any worse? Oh yea Fiji! Just watch and join the dots. Rabuka was bought by China before the PIF so that he could sell cooperation with China, understanding China, appreciating Chinese involvement in the South Pacific. Xi Ping made sure he had the best of the best in Lin Da so the ending was indeed a happy one for Rambo. Just look at the smile on his face. Anarchy awaits Fiji. China has very able and willing puppet now from Fiji. What a mess! Remember Fiji, Chines influence = very bad outcomes.
Perhaps the inevitable possession of Fiji by China in the not too distant future, including the equally inevitable enslaving of the remaining Fijians (read landowners because the vulagi would have left by then) would open some eyes. The Indians were labeled all sorts of things, including cunning, money minded, individualistic, savvy, greedy. Let’s see what the kaiviti have to say about their new incoming masters who would not tolerate dissent one bit.
And Australia only has so many farms requiring fruit pickers, and even less patience of the farmers with the whining among the current PALM mob. “Off to your bloody country you go, you ungrateful soft mongrels” will fume Farmer Joe. Oh, that’s funny, that’s what the current itaukei are saying to the vulagi.
And btw, newsflash, Australia and Super Rugby Pacific will have interest in a team from China, now matter what your skill level will be. End of PacAus Sports, back to the Skipper Cup. Oh wait, no more Skipper, because the CJ Patel lot would have gone too. Maybe it’ll be the Lewena Cup.
Yeah, we will watch from afar, with sadness for who we had thought of “our people” but who turned out to be envious co-inhabitants instead. But it would be too late by then.