Claim of alleged kidnapping attempt is not true – ACP Driu

The Fiji Police wishes to clarify that the claim of the alleged kidnapping attempt of three children in Lautoka last week is not true.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Operations, Livai Driu says they can confirm that a report of the alleged incident was lodged at the Lautoka Police Station on Wednesday evening by the parent of a child who claimed that his son and two of his classmates were victims of the incident.

ACP Driu says the suspect in question is a 16-year-old member of an overseas volunteer group conducting community work in the Lautoka area and was conducting a clean-up campaign from Shirley Park to the Punjas Children’s Park.

He says the 16-year-old said he went to Churchill Park wanting to watch rugby, following which he picked up rubbish in the area.

Police say after he finished, he went back to the children’s park to meet with his peers.

During his interview, he claimed that the children had followed him, and after their group debrief, he walked them back to Churchill Park where he was met with a group of angry parents, and was allegedly assaulted during the confrontation.

The 16-year-old has declined to lodge a report regarding the assault.