The Fiji Corrections Service Suva Remand Centre has a maximum capacity for 210 persons, but presently hosts 282 persons awaiting court cases, says officer-in-charge — remand Assistant Superintendent of Corrections Maika Waqanisau.
He said this during a talanoa session with Attorney-General Siromi Turaga on Monday.
Mr Waqanisau said some of those held at the centre were there for petty issues and had been in remand for nearly two years.
He said the issue of overcrowding at the centre could be solved if offenders of less severe cases, like breach of Domestic Violence Restraining Order (DVRO) and petty theft, were not sent to remand by the judiciary.
He said in a day, the 10 new suspects were received by the centre while 35 would be released for court appearances.
Mr Waqanisau said if the 35 were sent back to the centre by the court to await their next hearing, then a total of 45 individuals would be entering the centre at the end of that day.
Mr Turaga said he would take up the issue with Acting Chief Justice Salesi Temo and Acting Police Commissioner Juki Fong Chew.
