Three former Corrections officers have been sentenced to prison for the manslaughter of a remandee at Natabua Correction Centre in 2020.
The ruling was delivered in the High Court in Lautoka by Justice Aruna Aluthge yesterday.
The three men, Onisimo Raboiliku, Semesa Bulikalougata, and Navitalai Kanavo were initially charged with murder in the death of Jone Masirewa but were found guilty of manslaughter after trial.
At the time of the offence, all three were serving as Correction officers, with Mr Raboiliku holding the position of Assistant Superintendent, and the two others acting under his command.
The deceased was a remandee being held in quarantine during the COVID-19 outbreak.
The court found that Mr Raboiliku ordered and personally participated in the assault on Mr Masirewa, including using a fire hydrant nozzle to strike him.
Mr Semesa and Mr Kanavo punched and kicked the remandee under orders. Mr Masirewa later died from the injuries sustained.
Justice Aluthge condemned the abuse of power and breach of trust.
“The deceased was in a vulnerable position as a remandee under the supervision of the Court. You were entrusted with his care. Your actions not only took a life but undermined public confidence in our justice system,” the Judge said.
The court also heard that after the assault, Mr Raboiliku ordered the crime scene to be cleaned, an act viewed as an attempt to destroy evidence.
Onisimo Raboiliku was sentenced to 4 years’ imprisonment with a non-parole period of 2 years.
Semesa Bulikalougata and Navitalai Kanavo were each sentenced to 3 years’ imprisonment with non-parole periods of 18 months.
Justice Aluthge rejected the request for suspended sentences.
“Although you were not found guilty of murder, your unlawful conduct took the life of an innocent person. The courts must send a clear message that violence in correctional facilities, especially against remandees, will not be tolerated.”
He also noted the high number of complaints against prison officers and stressed the need for accountability and deterrence.
The convicted men have 30 days to appeal the sentences to the Court of Appeal.
