The Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission says it has established that Mesake Sinu was subjected to cruel, inhumane, degrading or disproportionately severe treatment at the hands of the police officers, which resulted in his death on October 12th in Nadi.
Director Ashwin Raj says this is based on witness statements, the death certificate and post mortem examination findings which state extensive intracranial haemorrhage due to severe traumatic head injury as a consequence of blunt force trauma.
Raj says in its report to the Fiji Police Force, the Commission denounced these acts of violence and recommended that those responsible face the criminal justice system in accordance with the Crimes Act.
The Commission is also urging the Fiji Police Force to also investigate the allegations of assault inflicted on two key witnesses in this case.
Raj says the two were present at the scene on October 12th when the victim was allegedly apprehended by the officers.
The Commission has also submitted a report to the Fiji Police Force on the alleged assault of the two witnesses.
The investigation file regarding the death of Mesake Sinu in Nadi in October has been submitted to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions for sanctioning.
Eight police officers were questioned for their alleged involvement in the incident.
The Acting Commissioner Rusiate Tudravu says disciplinary action will be decided once the DPP makes his decision based on the findings of the investigation.
Police say they will comment further after the file is returned from the DPP’s Office.
The Director of Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission, Ashwin Raj had said they conducted interviews with key witnesses and sought statements from close relatives concerning the death of Sinu, who was allegedly assaulted by a group of police officers on 12th October this year in Nadi.
Based on witness statements, Raj said the commission has established that the victim had allegedly sustained injuries in the course of his apprehension.
Raj says witnesses claim excessive force may have been used during his arrest as they heard the victim crying in pain and agony.
It was earlier revealed by officers that Sinu suffered injuries after he jumped off a roof while Police were chasing him for alleged robbery cases. However, it was later determined that this was not the case.
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