Still No Word from Police on Assault of Person in Their Direct Custody

The Fiji Police Force has yet to comment on a viral video showing the suspect in the death of a 14-year-old Nabua student being assaulted by members of the public while in the custody of Fiji Police Force officers.

The man, alleged to have caused the fatal motor vehicle accident, was brought in for questioning at the Nabua Police Station last week. Police later stated he had complained of feeling unwell and was referred to the Colonial War Memorial Hospital, where he was admitted before passing away. A post-mortem examination is expected.

The viral footage, widely shared on social media, shows the suspect being dragged away by police as members of the public openly punched and kicked him.

Human rights activist Roshika Deo condemned the assault, writing on Facebook:

“People were beating him up as he was being dragged away by the police! Charge everyone for assaulting him! What he did was horrible and justice should have been served BUT it doesn’t warrant for people to start beating him! These same people are the very ones that turn away when women are being beaten. When children are being beaten. Then it’s all ‘not my business’. We are a rotten society.”

Despite the widespread circulation of the video, the Fiji Police Force has not issued any statement addressing the public assault, focusing instead on the suspect’s hospitalisation and subsequent death.

We have sent questions to the Police.