Twelve police officers involved in a raid in Kinoya are being investigated following the death of Sakiasi Ose Radravu.
Police say the internal investigation will examine the conduct of the 12 officers and any failure to follow proper processes and procedures during the investigation of an alleged burglary case.
A directive has been issued to investigate officers involved in the initial arrest and detention of Radravu, as well as the apparent lack of supervisory oversight.
The Fiji Police Force acknowledges that non-compliance with due process continues to contribute to complaints against the organisation and its officers.
To address this, the Internal Affairs Unit has been directed to ensure internal oversight mechanisms are strictly enforced by middle managers, with disciplinary action to be taken against those who fail to comply.
Police say a post-mortem examination on Radravu was conducted yesterday, with immediate family members present for formal identification before the examination.
The family was later briefed on the cause of death, which police say has been linked to a pre-existing medical condition.
Police records from Valelevu Police Station confirm that Radravu was taken in for questioning on the night of April 23rd in relation to an alleged burglary case.
He was held in custody and later released.
Police also confirmed that, according to his family, no official report alleging assault was lodged following his arrest.
To ensure transparency, police say the case file will be forwarded to the Resident Magistrate along with the findings and recommendations for a possible inquest.
