ACTING Corrections Commissioner Sevuloni Naucukidi has defended his appointment to the top position in the Fiji Corrections Service, saying he spent the past two decades serving the institution across all levels and departments.
He said accusations made on social media that he was appointed through his alleged familial connections with acting Attorney-General Siromi Turaga were false.
“My appointment has nothing to do with Mr Turaga,” Mr Naucukidi said.
“I was asked if I was family with him (Mr Turaga) and I replied that, yes, we’re from the same province but I would accord him the same respect as he would me as far as our relationship goes as we are from the same province.”
He said he joined the Corrections Service, which at that time was called the Fiji Prisons Service, in 1997 in their accounting department.
“I started in our accounts, then I went to our stores then I went into our recruit program as a COC (Corrections Officer Class), I worked very hard and graduated in 1998,” he said.
“I managed to excel through the ranks until I was discovered by Naivalurua (former Commissioner Corrections and current Policing Minister Ioane Naivalurua) when they were looking for someone to write a Cabinet paper on the closure of Lakeba Prison in 2006.
“I became a sergeant major and was appointed Staff Officer – Operation, became Chief, and then OC of Suva and Suva Remand Centre.”
Mr Naucukidi said he’s held OC roles for the Nasinu and Lautoka facilities and also supervisor for the Central Eastern, West and Northern divisions, respectively.
“I was also staff officer– rehab, before becoming its director. I was chief logistics officer at one time, accounts officer, assistant commissioner administration and assistant commissioner operations before I was nominated to the Acting Commissioners post.
“I have gone on training trips overseas and also done all the required promotional courses relevant to the work of Corrections.
“Social media has been highlighting tertiary qualifications, but let me share this, courses at tertiary institutes here do not teach you how to look after prisoners, there are courses for this but they’re conducted here and overseas which we career officers undertake.”
Mr Naucukidi said it has not been easy reading the accusations online about him being appointed as acting COMCORR because of his alleged connections with Mr Turaga when he spent years working his way up through the Corrections ranks through merit, hard work, and experience.
“People are quick to jump to conclusions without knowing any reality or any truth about the matter.
“But it was passion for this job, and for changing the people in here that made me accept the appointment.”
