Three former Correction officers charged with the murder of a remand prisoner at Natabua Correction Centre in 2020 have been jailed for a total of 10 years.
Onisimo Raboiliku, Semesa Bulikalougata and Navitalai Kanavo were found guilty of the killing of Jone Masirewa at the conclusion of their trial before High Court judge Justice Aruna Aluthge who handed down their sentences in Lautoka on Wednesday.
At the time of the offence, the men were serving as Corrections officers at the Natabua Corrections Centre. Raboiliku, then an assistant superintendent, was the most senior officer of the trio while Bulikalougata and Kanavo were junior officers acting under his command.
Masirewa, was a remandee held in quarantine during the COVID-19 outbreak.
According to court records, Raboiliku had received complaints that Masirewa, who was displeased at being detained in the segregation block, had been swearing at the officers the previous night.
Justice Aluthge said Raboiliku commanded Bulikalougata and Kanavo to discipline Masirewa; they were ordered to kick him while he was on the ground.
“Apart from giving orders to kick, you hit the deceased multiple times with the nozzle of a fire hydrant hose,” Justice Aluthge said.
“Semesa and Kanavo, you, acting blindly under Raboiliku’s unlawful command, kicked and punched the deceased.
“As a result of the assault, the deceased received severe injuries which he eventually succumbed to.”
Justice Aluthge told Raboiliku the inmates were in his custody and held in trust.
“It was your duty to look after them and to be accountable to the court, their relatives and the public. You breached that trust and abused the authority of your office.
“The deceased was inherently vulnerable as he was a remandee in your custody. You committed the offence on a vulnerable person.”
Justice Aluthge said Raboiliku had ordered the deceased be bathed after the assault and the crime scene washed.
“This was apparently to destroy and erase the vital evidence before the crime scene investigators arrived.”
Raboiliku was jailed for four years with a non-parole period of two years while Bulikalougata and Kanavo were each sentenced to three years with non-parole periods of 18 months.
Justice Aluthge rejected the request for suspended sentences.
The men have 30 days to appeal.
Navitalai Kanavo outside the Lautoka High Court. Picture: ELENA VUCUKULA
Semesa Bulikalougata, Navitalai Kanavo (below left) and Onisimo Raboiliku (below right) outside the High Court in Lautoka. Picture: ELENA VUCUKULA
