The Suva High Court has ruled that the Fiji Police Force pay compensation for violating the rights of a 10-year-old boy in 2017.
The respondents in the matter which is the Fiji Police Force and the Office of the Attorney General of Fiji have been ordered to pay the 10-year-old boy $25,000 as compensation.
They have also been ordered to pay $2,000 for the costs of this application.
The Fiji Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission had filed for the civil action.
In his judgement, Justice Lyone Seneviratne said the 10-year-old boy was arrested by a police officer while he was having dinner on 29th June 2017 without a warrant.
He said the arresting officer did not allow the mother of the child to accompany him to the Police Station despite her request.
It was heard in court that whilst at the Nausori Police Station the child was physically assaulted by the arresting officer.
Justice Seneviratne said this is a country where the government is very much concerned about child rights.
He said the person who arrested the child and assaulted him was an officer appointed to safeguard the rights and security of the people of this country.
Justice Seneviratne said if the court ignores the severity of a matter of this nature and refused the application based on the application on the ground that the boy has an alternative remedy it will open floodgates for people, especially for law enforcement officers to harass helpless citizens.
