10 Oct 2014

Fiji police investigate Bilitaki assault

2:05 pm on 10 October 2014

Fiji's Police Commissioner says it appears certain processes were not carried out according to the law following an internal investigation into the detention of a retired teacher Joseva Bilitaki.

Mr Bilitaki was involved in an exchange of texts over the use of his songs by the FijiFirst party of Frank Bainimarama during campaigning for last month's elections.

The Commissioner, Ben Groenewald, says police have begun an investigation after getting a formal complaint from Mr Bilitaki about being allegedly assaulted by the arresting team.

"It was a combined team of police and military people but the investigation will indicate, if there were any assault, who was responsible for the assault. Any person whether it's a policeman or a military person, if he or she commits a crime they will face the law."

Commissioner Groenewald says he hopes the investigation will be completed within a week and will then be submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions.