7th Police Officer remanded in relation to Richard Mock's death

A seventh police officer has been remanded in custody in relation to the death of Richard Mock.

Fenton Thaggard appeared in the Nadi Magistrates Court after being charged with one count of manslaughter.

It is alleged that between the 16th and 17th of January 2025, Thaggard, together with another officer, unlawfully assaulted Mock, resulting in his death.

The State has applied for the matter to be transferred to the Lautoka High Court so it can be heard jointly with the cases of six other police officers facing charges arising from the same incident.

The six other officers include 33-year-old Sonal Kumar, who is charged with one count of manslaughter, 57-year-old Abdul Saiban, who is charged with one count of accessory after the fact to manslaughter, 22-year-old Owen Smith, 24-year-old Isikeli Nagilolevu, 25-year-old Ratu Peni Ranamu, and 26-year-old Ratu Filimoni Yawayawa, who have been jointly charged with one count of manslaughter arising from a breach of duty.

It is alleged that Mock died in police custody in February last year, and a group of officers at Namaka Police Station dumped his body in Nasau, Nadi after realising he was dead.

The case will be called again in the Lautoka High Court on Monday.