16 Jul 2013

Fiji lifts visitation ban on video beating inmate

1:30 pm on 16 July 2013

The Fiji Corrections Services have lifted a ban on visiting prison inmate, Iowane Benedito, whose beating by police was shown in a video leaked online in March.

Last week, the Fiji Corrections Services said Benedito was denied visitations while also saying that visitations were allowed but he had not been visited.

The issue became public as his mother was about to lodge a complaint with the police about being denied access.

Last month, Fiji police said they couldn't reveal whether anyone has been identified in the video.

The government has refused all comment on its own probe.

The UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, Juan Mendez, said the Fiji government must not allow any cover-up of torture incidents.