Inmate’s death at Naboro under independent investigation by Human Rights Commission

The Fiji Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission is independently investigating the death of an inmate at the Naboro Minimum Corrections Centre on the 10th of February.

While responding to questions by fijivillage News, Commission Chairperson, Pravesh Sharma says they have also received a complaint from the family of the deceased.

Sharma says the Commission has also reported the death to the Criminal Investigation Department to investigate the incident.

He says according to Commissioner’s Local Orders 2011 (No 018) – Death in Custody, under section 3.2, all deaths that occur in prison shall be considered suspicious until the Police find otherwise or the medical officer confirms death through natural causes as a result of an existing medical condition.

The Commissioner says Section 13(1)(j) of the Constitution of the Republic of Fiji, requires that a person who is arrested or detained, if necessary, must be provided with medical treatment while Section 13(1)(j) states that every person who is arrested or detained has the right to conditions of detention that are consistent with human dignity, including at least the opportunity to exercise regularly and the provision, at State expense, of adequate accommodation, nutrition, and medical treatment.

He says the Commission has written to the Fiji Corrections Service seeking information about the death of the inmate and is awaiting a response.

Questions have been sent to the Fiji Corrections Service and the Police. They are yet to respond.