8 Corrections Officers charged in relation to the death of a serving prisoner granted bail

8 Corrections Officers charged in relation to the assault and death of Seremaia Naidole Momo, a serving prisoner in 2019 have been granted bail by the Suva Magistrates Court.

The 10 officers who were charged include Joji Raqamate, Isei Rakaso, Pita Raikoso, Josefa Boletakibureta, Waisea Sadranu, Josefa Satini, Lemeki Koroi, Ledua Tikoigau, Nemani Vasuvulagi and Apisai Naqamu however it was revealed in court that Lemeki Koroi has passed away while Ledua Tikoigau has left the country.

The charges against Koroi has been withdrawn by the prosecutor.

41-year-old Rakaso, 24-year-old Raikosi and 23-year-old Boletakibureta are charged with assault causing actual bodily harm for allegedly assaulting Momo inside the bathroom of the cell block at Naboro Minimum Corrections Centre.

42-year-old Sadranu and 35-year-old Satini are separately charged with acts intended to cause grievous harm for allegedly continuously punching Momo several times inside the Chief Operations Office of the Naboro Minimum Corrections Centre.

35-year-old Raqamate, Sadranu, Tikoigau, Rakaso, 28-year-old Vasuvulagi, Satini, Raikoso and 50-year-old Naiqamu are charged with acts intended to cause grievous harm for allegedly punching and kicking Momo several times inside the Chief Operations Office of the Naboro Minimum Corrections Centre.

Rakaso is also charged with complicity in the suicide of another for allegedly procuring the suicide of Momo.

The court was informed that Raqamate, Rakaso, Raikoso, Sadranu, Satini, and Vasuvulagi have been suspended while Boletakibureta and Naqamu are no longer employed by the Fiji Corrections Services.

The alleged incidents took place on the 20th of February in 2019.

The case has been transferred to the Suva High Court and will be called on the 6th of April.