Amnesty International has called on Fijian authorities to make public the results of an investigation into the death of 26-year‑old rugby player Josua Lalauvaki, who died shortly after being released from police custody in September 2018.
Amnesty International says Lalauvaki’s case fits a pattern of numerous cases of abuses by the Fiji security forces, including torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, compounded by a systematic lack of prompt, impartial, effective and independent investigations.
It says according to press reports and information collected by Amnesty International, on 2nd September 2018 at around 4am, police officers in uniform and civilian clothes arrested and allegedly assaulted Lalauvaki, two women and another man.
It claims the group then attempted to file a complaint against the police officers that assaulted them however the front desk police officers threatened that Lalauvaki would be charged and given ten years imprisonment if they filed a complaint.
Amnesty International further alleges the police officers apologized and shook the hands of all the victims.
Amnesty International says late in the afternoon of 2nd September, Lalauvaki was rushed to the CWM Hospital after he continuously complained of a severe abdominal pain.
Early next morning Lalauvaki underwent surgery and was put in an induced coma for approximately 18 days.
He passed away on 11th October and the cause of death was listed as severe intra‑abdominal sepsis resulting from a blunt force trauma.
It says Police were officially informed about Lalauvaki’s condition as early as 5th September, three days after his arrest and admission to hospital.
Subsequently, the police advised they could not take any action until they receive his full medical report, which the hospital said they could only release once the victim is discharged from the Intensive Care Unit.
Amnesty International says after nearly three weeks the Criminal Investigations Department of Totogo Police Station made contact with the family to take their statements.
Amnesty International calls for prompt, impartial, effective and independent investigations into all cases of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment by the security forces.
This includes investigation into those assaulted alongside Lalauvaki, and police officers that threatened reprisals and prevented complaints from being filed on the day of incident.
Meanwhile Commissioner of Police Sitiveni Qiliho had directed the immediate suspension of two police officers on the 19th of this month pending the outcome of the investigation regarding the death Lalauvaki.
Police say a police constable and a special constable have been suspended without pay.
Qiliho has instructed the Director CID to ensure the investigation file is summed up and submitted to the Office of the DPP as quickly as possible for sanctioning.
The file is with the DPP at the moment.
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