Fiji police say action will be taken on police brutality cases

Transcript

Fiji's police commissioner has confirmed six separate investigations into police brutality are open.

Ben Groenewald spent Wednesday in the northern province, where it is alleged a drug raid earlier this year involved the bashing of a father of three, two taxi drivers, and several farmers.

The education ministry has confirmed that it counselled ten children after they witnessed the alleged beating.

Alex Perrottet reports.

Police confirm they are investigating the alleged incident in the Cakaudrove (thakaw-drove) province on Vanua Levu.  The education ministry's divisional counsellor for the north, Isikeli Drevacu, says nothing can be done about the children's memories, and they were clearly distressed.

ISIKELI DREVACU:  We listened to those who were affected, especially for these children who were shocked at the things that happened. That kind of experience is beyond our control, memories don't leave like people do. That kind of moment it will be there in their life, but they are now able to cope with those kinds of experience.

Isikeli Drevacu says a follow up session will be held with the children.  However Ben Groenewald says the police did not receive a complaint at the time of that alleged incident.

BEN GROENEWALD:  We only learned about that when we saw news clips, but at that stage, my internal affairs investigations team were already in the north investigating a few other issues and they have taken up the investigation. In fact I am on the brink to have a discussion with my investigating officer to find out exactly what is the status of the investigation.

Ben Groenewald says he held a productive talanoa session with community groups and spoke to the chief investigator for an update.  Among the other five complaints, is one against a senior police officer for the alleged assault on the taxidrivers and farmers.  A programme manager for the Citizens Constitutional Forum, Ken Cokanasiga, says the authorities need to take decisive action.

KEN COKANASIGA:  Do they really know what they are doing, because if we continue down this trend there's a high risk of change, where the citizens will go look ok we don't trust the police anymore so we won't report such cases, because we know when they come through they will do what they like, give us brute force, assault us.

Ken Cokanasiga says Mr Groenewald has restored confidence in the police since his appointment last year.

KEN COKANASIGA:  We have to commend the commissioner for that, because before there was no turnaround time, especially with the cases from last year. When he stepped in, especially towards the end of last year with all the brutality cases, we've actually said congratulations to Ben and said look you're doing a wonderful job, please keep it up and don't fall back.

The earlier brutality cases include the severe beating of prison escapees by corrections staff. At the time the Prime Minister said he would stick by his men, who were keeping dangerous criminals off the streets. In another incident, an accused man died in police custody.  Ken Cokanasiga says he is not surprised that other incidents occur, when a violent attack caught on video showing people's faces, seems to go unpunished.  Last year Mr Groenewald said he would also review those previous cases that had earlier been closed.  He says he hopes the six current cases will be closed within a week's time.