A family is seeking justice after two brothers were allegedly beaten along the Natokamu stretch in Labasa on Saturday afternoon.
Epeli Asaisea and his younger brother, Akuila Matawaqa, were allegedly assaulted by two men around 4pm two days ago.
A video footage of the alleged assault has gone viral showing Asaisea, who appeared intoxicated and without a shirt, being punched and kicked repeatedly on the side of the road as bystanders watched.
Mr Matawaqa said his brother was beaten after he accidentally smashed the rear window of a vehicle.
“We were picked with three others from Siberia to be dropped at home in Malau,” he said.
“Epeli was told to sit in the boot of a vehicle and had fallen asleep when he accidentally smashed the rear window.”
Speaking to this newspaper after they were reviewed at the Labasa Hospital yesterday, he claimed he was assaulted first but it was not caught on camera.
“We came to Labasa Hospital to get checked and to have my older brother reviewed by a doctor because he cannot sleep.”
He said they wanted the two men who assaulted them to be held accountable.
“We never dreamt that we would get assaulted.”
At one point in the video, one of the men could be heard saying in iTaukei to throw Asaisea to him so the beating could continue.
The video footage of Asaisea at the Labasa Hospital, with bandage wrapped around his head, has sparked widespread outrage online.
Many social media users have condemned the attack, calling for justice and stronger measures to prevent such violence.
The matter over the broken rear window was resolved after reconciliation, with the group paying for the damage.
However, the assault is still under investigation.
It is understood that Asaisea filed a report at the Labasa Police Station around 3am yesterday.
Police confirmed a report was lodged and investigation was underway.
