17 January, 2026, 12:27 am Central - 24°C Rain

Cunningham man dies after allegedly getting assaulted at the bus stop

Cunningham man dies after allegedly getting assaulted at the bus stop

By Mikaele Liga
24/03/2024

As we get into the week of Easter, a family in Cunningham are still trying to come to terms that the head of the family has passed on after he was allegedly assaulted by a man who was heavily intoxicated.

Amelia Katavaki, the eldest daughter, recalls the event over the weekend as one of the saddest moments of her life. In an interview with fijivillage News, Katavaki says her 68-year-old father, Mesake Rikalevu went with his granddaughter to wait for the bus, as they were heading to Suva.

rika-sm

Amelia says while waiting for the bus, a drunk man was swearing at a pastor who lives along the road, and her dad told the man not to do that. Katavaki says they had a heated argument, and the drunk man punched her dad in the chest, which caused him to lose consciousness and he later died at the Tamavua Health Centre.

Rikalevu served as a church steward for the Methodist Church in Fiji and has served in various parts of the country.

He is survived by his wife and seven children.

Meanwhile, Police are currently searching for the suspect who allegedly assaulted Rikalevu, resulting in his death.

Divisional Police Commander South Senior Superintendent of Police Wate Vocevoce confirms the suspect is known to the Police and are pursuing his whereabouts.

FEATURE NEWS
6 in custody including 4 South American nationals after seizure of more than 100 bags of cocaine
Four South American nationals and two Fijians are in police custody following an early morning drug raid in Vatia waters, north of Viti Levu, between ...
7 hours ago
LATEST NEWS
New $7M project aims to strengthen women’s resilience in the Pacific
Oxfam in the Pacific has today launched the Pacific Oceanic Women Enhancing Resilience Project and has received $7 million from the Government of ...
7 hours ago

Three juveniles identified for Nabua motorcycle incident
Three juveniles aged 15 and 13 have been identified for allegedly throwing water at a motorcyclist, resulting in an accident in Nabua on ...
8 hours ago

Investigation ongoing for Walu Bay fuel spill
Outgoing Minister for Environment and Climate Change Mosese Bulitavu says the investigation into the fuel leak at Walu Bay that happened earlier this ...
8 hours ago

296 lives lost on Fiji’s roads in five years
296 people have died on Fiji’s roads over the past five years.Acting Deputy Police Commissioner Aporosa Lutunauga presented the figures at the ...
9 hours ago

Alleged Top Shop robbery case sent back to Magistrates Court
The case of alleged Raiwai Top Shop robbers has been transferred back to the Magistrates Court by High Court Judge Justice Daniel Goundar.23-year-old ...
9 hours ago



Stay tuned for the latest news on our radio stations

CFL radio frequencies
IN DEPTH
Electricity tariff increase for users consuming more than 100 units
There is an increase in the electricity tariff rate for consumers using more than 100 units from 1 January next year.Fijian Competition and Consumer ...
14 days ago

Fiji needs to act on human trafficking indicators associated with Grace Road Group
The United States remains deeply concerned about indicators of trans-national organised crime and human trafficking in Fiji associated with the Grace ...
25 days ago

Cheap seed oils are not good for our health - O'Neill
With over 80 percent of deaths in Fiji caused by cardiovascular disease based on the 2011 report, naturopath and nutritionist Barbara O’Neill is ...
25 days ago

TOP