Police and Home Affairs Minister, Pio Tikoduadua are yet to clarify why former Attorney General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum was handcuffed when he was taken from the CID Headquarters in Toorak to Totogo Police Station on Monday night.
We have sent questions to Police and Tikoduadua asking what is in the Police Standing Orders and other laws on when people should be handcuffed.
fijivillage News has asked if this applies to everyone who has been charged and transferred to remand.
Some concerned citizens are raising the question on why Sayed-Khaiyum was subjected to this when the same was not done to Voreqe Bainimarama and Sitiveni Qiliho when they were recently charged and transferred to the remand cell at Totogo Police Station.
We have also asked Police and Tikoduadua this question.
The Criminal Procedure Act 2009 states that no person arrested may be subjected to more restraint than is necessary to prevent escape.
FijiFirst MP, Viliame Naupoto asks whether police believe there was a risk of Sayed-Khaiyum escaping, and an investigation and explanation are warranted.
Naupoto says he is concerned why Sayed-Khaiyum was unnecessarily paraded around in handcuffs.
He says when opposition members are unfairly targeted and arrested for their political views, it not only violates their fundamental rights but also undermines the principles of justice, fairness, and democracy.
Naupoto says the use of police to parade opposition politicians in handcuffs only serves to further humiliate and intimidate them, and it violates human rights conventions that protect the dignity of all individuals.
Sayed-Khaiyum said the reason he was given for being handcuffed was that it was for his own safety, so obviously he took the word of the Police and was handcuffed.
Acting Police Commissioner, Juki Fong Chew has stated that he will not respond to political statements.
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