The Fiji Corrections Service (FCS) has suspended four officers pending the outcome of an investigation into an alleged assault on an inmate at the Lautoka Remand Centre.
The decision follows the circulation of CCTV footage on social media showing a prison officer allegedly dragging, punching and kicking an inmate inside the facility.
In a statement, the FCS said the suspension of staff is standard procedure when investigating allegations of assault or breaches of internal operational instructions at correctional centres.
“The Fiji Corrections Service has suspended four officers to allow for a thorough investigation into the recent incident at the Lautoka Remand Centre,” the statement said.
The footage, dated June 14 this year, has sparked widespread public concern over the conduct of prison officers and the treatment of inmates in Fiji’s correctional facilities.
The FCS confirmed that a formal investigation is underway to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The matter has also drawn the attention of the Fiji Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission, which has called for a prompt, independent and transparent investigation while reiterating that there must be zero tolerance for torture and all forms of ill-treatment in places of detention.
