The Acting Commissioner of Police Rusiate Tudravu says internal investigations into the alleged police assault case in Nakasi has revealed that the social media post claiming that police officers allegedly assaulted a man is not true.
Tudravu laid out some details of the findings of internal affairs investigation in a statement this afternoon.
He says on 10th of October 2020, a report was received at the Nakasi Police Station during curfew hours.
That report was about a group of men drinking homebrew in a public place at Qiqi Place in Davuilevu Housing. Tudravu says this has been confirmed through CCTV footage obtained during the course of the investigation.
He says a team of officers were deployed to the scene at Qiqi Place but the men ran away.
Police say the men were later seen back at the same spot and another call was made requesting police assistance.
Another team of officers were again deployed to the scene in an unmarked police vehicle but the men again quickly dispersed.
Police say they only managed to find one of the men who had entered a private compound where another drinking party was taking place.
Tudravu says police officers complied with the process of asking permission to enter the compound which was allowed.
He says when they were in the compound, the officers were allegedly confronted by a group of men including the two off duty officers.
Five people including the four police officers were injured in the process and police managed to arrest one of the men who was allegedly part of the group who were drinking in public.
Tudravu says on the night of the incident a report was lodged by the four police officers against the alleged victim and the two police officers for assault and obstruction.
He says the alleged victim based on the social media post has since been charged with Failure to Comply with Orders, Obstruction and Resisting Arrest.
Tudravu says the two off duty police officers are also under investigation for alleged obstruction and are being put through the internal disciplinary processes.
The Acting Commissioner of Police is requesting members of the public to trust that the processes will be followed in a transparent manner, and if there is enough evidence to support claims made against Police officers, independent legal advice or the sanctioning of charges will be sought from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution.
The Acting Commissioner of Police Rusiate Tudravu says he is liaising closely with the Chief of Intelligence and Investigations regarding the investigation currently being conducted in relation to the death of Mesake Sinu in Nadi.
He has assured the victim’s family and the public that all findings will be submitted to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution for their independent legal advice.
The Fiji Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission is also investigating the allegations of police brutality in Nadi.
Director, Ashwin Raj says it is a matter of grave concern that a life has been lost.
Raj says the investigation team is in Nadi conducting a preliminary investigation into the case.
He says they have been in touch with the grieving family.
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