8 Corrections Officers plead not guilty

The 8 Corrections Officers charged in relation to the assault and death of Seremaia Naidole Momo, a serving prisoner in 2019 have pleaded not guilty to the charges they are facing in the Suva High Court.

Joji Raqamate, Isei Rakaso, Pita Raikoso, Josefa Boletakibureta, Waisea Sadranu, Josefa Satini, Nemani Vasuvulagi and Apisai Naqamu are facing the charges.

Rakaso, Raikosi and 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.

Sadranu and 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.

Raqamate, Sadranu, Ledua Tikoigau, Rakaso,Vasuvulagi, Satini, Raikoso and 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 alleged incidents took place on the 20th of February in 2019.