The Fiji Police Force is calling on survivors of alleged sexual crimes to lodge their complaint with police.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Operations Livai Driu said this while confirming no report had been lodged with police against a senior government official, who has since resigned.

“I think people should lodge their complaint with the police and until then we cannot do anything,” said ACP Driu.

The allegation of sexual harassment against the official was first raised by a reporter with Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka during a media interview last month.

Yesterday, the Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre and Fiji Women’s Rights Movement released a joint statement calling out Mr Rabuka and the Government to withdraw the former official’s nomination for a diplomatic post.

“Without questioning the fundamental right to the presumption of innocence, the nomination of a man accused of sexual harassment reminds us how sexual violence is normalised and minimised, including at the highest levels of the state where perpetrators continue to be rewarded,” said FWCC co-ordinator Shamima Ali.

Questions sent to Mr Rabuka who is currently in New Zealand remained unanswered.