Fiji's interim Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama says he is standing by the security personnel filmed in a video beating prisoners.
The video shows one handcuffed man being savagely beaten with metal bars and another being set upon by a dog.
The beating has been condemned by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Rupert Colville.
In an interview with the website Fiji Village, Mr Bainimarama says people should remember that the prisoners believed to be shown in the video had broken into a bank and terrorised people for two weeks.
He said security officers had worked tirelessly to ensure the prison escapees were recaptured.
Mr Bainimarama said investigations would take place, but as the person responsible for the security of the nation he wants to make it clear that he stands by the security personnel.
"We cannot discard them just because they've done their duty in looking after the security of this nation and making sure we sleep peacefully at night," he is quoted as saying.
