5 Jun 2015

Assault cases involving Fiji police with DPP

8:20 am on 5 June 2015

Seven files of alleged assault involving police officers in Fiji have been submitted to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Police Commissioner Ben Groenewald says the files were submitted at the conclusion of investigations by an internal affairs task-force.

Fiji's Police Commissioner Ben Groenewald

Fiji's Police Commissioner Ben Groenewald Photo: Facebook

Early this year, complaints were received alleging police brutality during drug raids in the Northern Division, where it is alleged a father of three, two taxi drivers and several farmers were bashed.

Commissioner Groenewald says the investigation is an isolated incident.

"That happened during our drug raids and there are implications, not to say that the policemen are guilty, you are only guilty when you are found guilty in a court of law. So that is why we are waiting for the objectivity of the ODPP to make a decision on whether there are substantial evidence or prima facie evidence to prove that these people were in fact assaulted by police."

In 2014, police were reported to be looking at reopening a number of cases of alleged police brutality, some going as far back as six years ago.

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