A father already deeply concerned with worry for his hospitalised wife and his Year 2 son says his world turned into a nightmare when he was allegedly assaulted by police in Nausori.
Alipate Tagi Gonerogo claims that on the 29th of January, while his wife was admitted in hospital and his Year 2 son was about to finish school, he briefly stopped at the Nausori taxi base to speak to a friend who was drinking with others and asking him for $2 for his bus fare.
He claims the officers assumed he was part of the group that was drinking and began attacking him.
Gonerogo says he was beaten inside the police vehicle and that the assault intensified at the station, where he claims he was assaulted so severely that he could not control his body and passed stool accidentally.
The 50-year-old says his children witnessed what happened to him, describing the experience as traumatic for his family.
Insert: Gonerogo on police assault VITIFM ONLY 18th Feb 26
He adds that if his children had not been present that day, he believes he may have been killed.
Gonerogo is now calling on the Commissioner of Police to ensure the officers involved are charged for what he describes as unprofessional conduct.
Meanwhile, Commissioner of Police, Rusiate Tudravu has directed the Internal Affairs Department to investigate allegations of assault involving officers from the Nausori Police Station.
