20 Jan 2016

Fiji police to clarify Brown case

4:28 pm on 20 January 2016

Fiji police say they will issue a statement soon concerning the assistant commissioner, Henry Brown, who has been off work while being accused of unspecified serious wrongdoing.

Invoking the supremacy of the constitution, the acting police commander, Brigadier-General Sitiveni Qiliho, decided to send Mr Brown on leave last month pending an investigation.

Mr Brown was due back at work yesterday, but police then said he would not return before today.

Police have declined to say whether Mr Brown will be paid while on leave.

The Police Act makes no provison for sending an officer on leave but gives the commissioner the power to suspend an officer.

Last month, Brigadier General Qiliho said he would apply for the commissioner's job, saying he believed he has the right set of skills for the job.

He was put in charge of the police force in November when Ben Groenewald resigned as commissioner, citing interference by the military in police operations.

fiji police

Photo: Fiji Police

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