Former Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama will now be handcuffed during all court appearances as a Fiji Corrections Service investigation has revealed that he signed documents on matters unrelated to his detention while attending court.
The Fiji Corrections Service in a statement last night says their investigation has confirmed that Bainimarama signed documents for the FijiFirst Party parliamentarians during a court session, which constitutes a breach of established protocols.
Corrections Commissioner Dr Jalesi Nakarawa says this measure is intended to ensure compliance with security protocols and to maintain the decorum and integrity of the judicial process.
He says the breach that occurred during Bainimarama's court session is unacceptable and they are taking decisive action to address this lapse.
Dr Nakarawa further says they will take disciplinary action against officers responsible for escorting Bainimarama during his court appearance.
He says the incident, which occurred during Bainimarama's court appearance, was thoroughly examined to determine the sequence of events and assess the responsibility of the involved personnel.
Dr Nakarawa says their findings indicate a failure to adhere to the procedural guidelines set forth for the handling of detainees during judicial proceedings.
The Corrections Commissioner says this compromised the integrity of the operations and allowed the breach to occur.
He also says they are committed to upholding the highest standards of conduct and security.
Dr Nakarawa stresses they have a duty to the public to ensure that protocols are rigorously followed and that all detainees are treated with fairness while maintaining strict security measures.
Dr. Nakarawa adds the actions of their officers in this instance fell short of their expectations and their professional standards and they will take appropriate disciplinary steps to rectify this and prevent future breaches.
