6 Apr 2006

Fiji court awards maximum compensation over soldier's killing

1:20 pm on 6 April 2006

The Suva magistrate's court has awarded the widow of a Counter Revolutionary Warfare Unit soldier killed during the November 2000 mutiny compensation of 14,000 US dollars.

The Fiji Times quotes magistrate Ajmal Khan as saying that there was no evidence that Ana Kalounivale's husband, Salestino, was a mutineer.

Corporal Kalounivale was pronounced dead just after midnight on the day of the mutiny from injuries he sustained after a beating by loyalist soldiers.

Magistrate Khan said at the time of his arrest, Corporal Kalounivale had a knapsack which contained camouflaged army trousers, a detonator, a cord, a knife and a water container.

He said Corporal Kalounivale was taken to the naval base and then to the Central Police Station in Suva after which he was picked up by soldiers.

He was pronounced dead when taken to the hospital at midnight.

Mr Khan said a post mortem found that hat the deceased died from severe injuries resulting from beating.

He awarded the maximum compensation under Fiji's Workmen's Compensation Act.