Police Chief Operations Officer ACP Rusiate Tudravu says that they will conduct a fair and thorough investigation into claims by a man that he was beaten up in police custody.
ACP Tudravu says that they can confirm that Ricardo Fisher was taken in for a case of drunk and disorderly and was also later charged for disorderly behaviour in a police station and resisting arrest.
He says that Fisher has also appeared in court for these charges.
ACP Tudravu says they are now trying to verify his complaint which he said he had lodged and he can be assured that police will conduct a thorough investigation through the Internal Affairs Unit.
He says the Commissioner of Police has already assured people that all complaints against officers will be investigated as he does not condone any abuse of authority.
Ricardo Fisher claims that he was picked up by the police in Suva last week and he was allegedly beaten unconscious during his night in custody.
Fisher has told Radio NZ that he has filed a complaint to the police over the incident.
He has alleged that he was punched and kicked by up to five policemen at the Totogo Police Station last Monday night.
The 36‑year‑old claims that he spent two days in hospital with bruises, swelling and two broken ribs.
Fisher who was charged with being drunk and disorderly said he was taken to the station after a scuffle with another group of people.
He claims that the police officers took him on the back of a police truck to the hospital after the beating.
Fisher admits he was intoxicated, but not enough so that he couldn't recall the beating.
Fisher's friend who is a witness and spoke to Radio NZ said that he had been in and out of jail in Australia for half his life and never witnessed anything like it.
Fisher said that as soon as he was discharged from the hospital the police took him back to the station and charged him for being drunk and disorderly, misconduct at the police station and resisting arrest.
He has also lodged a complaint that he had $150 missing from his wallet when he received his items.
