21 January, 2026, 2:30 pm Central - 30°C Rain

Mothers of serving prisoners who escaped from Naboro Prison raise concerns about alleged assault

Mothers of serving prisoners who escaped from Naboro Prison raise concerns about alleged assault

By Semi Turaga
04/02/2019
The injured prisoners walking out of the Suva Magistrates Court

The mothers of serving prisoners, Peniasi Qalibau and Mesulame Waqabaca who escaped from the Naboro Maximum Security Complex last December say they have raised with Police and the Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission their concerns about their sons being allegedly assaulted by the disciplined forces following their escape in December last year.

Qalibau and Waqabaca who appeared in court today with five other serving prisoners, struggled to walk in their crutches and heavily bandaged legs.

Solomoni Qurai also had a heavily bandaged arm.

Qalibau’s mother, Litiana Rokowati says while she understands that her son broke the law and escaped from prison, it is still not right for the authorities to allegedly assault her son.


Mesulame Waqabaca’s mother, Varanisese Togawale and Peniasi Qalibau’s mother, Litiana Rokowati 

She also wants to see her son so they can talk about what allegedly happened to him.

Waqabaca’s mother, Varanisese Togawale is also calling on the Fiji Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission to look into her son’s case.

The seven men Filipe Delana, Ulaiasi Qalomai, Mesulame Waqabaca, Josaia Usumaki, Bainivalu Tuimatavesi and Solomone Qurai and Peniasi Qalibau also allegedly damaged Fiji Corrections Service properties on 24th December last year.

It included PVC pipes.

Police are yet to confirm if they have received a report from the mothers of the two serving prisoners.

Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission Director, Ashwin Raj is looking into the matter.

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