13 May 2020

Little detail on progress of Fiji police brutality investigations

5:27 pm on 13 May 2020

A Fiji man who was thrown off a bridge by police officers was subjected to cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment.

That's the finding of a report by Fiji's Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission, which was released on Wednesday.

No caption.

Photo: RNZ Pacific/Koroi Hawkins

Pio Tikoduadua

Pio Tikoduadua Photo: CC BY-SA 4.0

The commission's director, Ashwin Raj, said the violence at the hands of the police went against Fiji's human rights obligations under international law.

Nine police officers have been suspended while an investigation is carried out into the attack, which left the 32-year-old from Naqia hospitalised.

Mr Raj said his findings have been sent to the police to help with the investigation.

Meanwhile, an opposition MP, Pio Tikoduadua, continues to be investigated over a video he posted to Facebook, in which he detailed the assault.

The National Federation Party parliamentarian was arrested during the night on 20 April, apparently over the video he filmed on the bridge detailing the assault and criticising the police.

It is still not clear what Mr Tikoduadua is being investigated for, and what charges he may face.

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