A BUS driver who was allegedly attacked by a group of youths in Makoi, Nasinu, last weekend has raised concerns about police response, claiming one of the officers at the Tuirara Police Station was asleep when he went in to seek help.
Jeremaia Fuakilau, who has been driving for about a year, said the incident happened around 7.30am last Saturday while he was on his first trip of the day.
He alleged a group of about 10 to 15 youths blocked his bus at a junction at Kalabu Village before forcefully boarding the bus without paying their fares.
Mr Fuakilau said they appeared intoxicated and became aggressive when he refused to divert from his Suva-Kalabu route and take them to Sam’s shop — a liquor outlet within the area.
When they got aggressive, he decided to drive the bus to the nearest police station — Tuirara Police Station.
“They started swearing at me, pulling the steering wheel, covering my face, and even punching me while the bus was moving,” Mr Fuakilau said.
“One of them used a rod to hit me, and they continued hitting me even when we reached the station.
“Only one officer ran outside. It was only when I ran in to find something to defend myself with that I saw another officer just waking up from inside.
He was surprised when I burst into the station, and he asked me again what I was doing in there — totally oblivious to what was happening outside.”
He said when they came out again, the youths had fled the scene. He said he sustained injuries in the attack and was advised to seek medical treatment before filing a report. He claimed he later submitted his medical documents at the Nasinu Police Station, but has yet to hear from them.
The driver said the ordeal left him shaken and fearful, though he intends to return to work.
“I was lucky to survive. But next time, another driver may not.”
Police spokesperson Ana Naisoro confirmed to The Fiji Times that acting director of Operations, senior superintendent of Police Wate Vocevoce, has directed the officer in charge of the Southern Division Internal Affairs to investigate the allegations against the second officer.
She said the search for the suspects was still ongoing.
