Former Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama is under investigation for allegedly making unauthorized calls at the Naisinu Correction Centre. The Fiji Corrections Service (FCS) announced that a thorough investigation is being conducted into Bainimarama’s use of his mobile phone, which had been permitted by the High Court strictly for monitoring his pacemaker app.
According to an FCS statement, Bainimarama had been granted limited access to his phone for medical reasons but is now suspected of using it to make private calls, which violates prison regulations. The FCS emphasized its commitment to maintaining high standards of security and order within its facilities, and any breach of regulations is taken very seriously.
Dr. Jalesi Nakarawa, FCS Commissioner, stated that the safety and security of their facilities are of the utmost importance. He affirmed that a comprehensive investigation is underway to understand how this breach occurred and to prevent it from happening again. Dr. Nakarawa also mentioned that appropriate disciplinary actions will be taken against any individuals found to be negligent or complicit in this matter.
In addition, the FCS is reviewing its current policies and procedures to reinforce controls over the medical treatment of inmates, including the use of mobile phones. This review will include reassessing the protocols for granting special accommodations to prisoners with medical needs to ensure that these allowances do not compromise security. The Court Order related to Bainimarama may need to be addressed to meet his medical needs without jeopardizing security.
The FCS recognizes the need to balance the medical requirements of prisoners with the necessity to strictly adhere to prison regulations. The investigation’s findings will guide future decisions on managing this balance effectively.