Police have opened a criminal inquiry into an incident at Naboro Maximum Prison after the Fiji Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission (FHRADC) formally referred a complaint to the force’s Criminal Investigations Department (CID), the commission and police confirmed. The referral brings the allegation — that a Chinese national detained at the facility suffered serious injuries, including reportedly broken legs — into a formal police probe, though those injury claims have not been independently verified.
FHRADC director Loukinikini Lewaravu said the complaint was sent to police under Section 29(1)(d) of the Fiji Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission Act 2009, which allows the commission to refer matters where the complainant has another available remedy or channel that could reasonably be used. “The matter has been referred to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Fiji Police Force in accordance with Section 29(1)(d) … The commission will continue to monitor the progress of the matter,” Lewaravu said.
Police confirmed they have received correspondence from the commission and that an investigation will be initiated. “The commission wrote directly to COMPOL and it has been acknowledged with an investigation to be initiated,” a police statement said, indicating the matter has been formally recorded with the office of the Commissioner of Police. The CID, which handles serious and complex criminal matters, will lead enquiries into the circumstances surrounding the complaint.
The development follows media and other reports alleging the detainee sustained significant injuries while at Naboro Maximum Prison. Authorities have not provided details on the nature of those injuries, how they occurred or whether any prison staff or other detainees are being considered as part of the inquiry. The allegations, including reports of broken legs, remain unverified by independent medical or official sources as police and the commission continue their inquiries.
The commission’s referral shifts oversight from administrative review within the rights body to a criminal investigation framework, a step that could widen the scope of evidence-gathering to include medical examinations, witness interviews and custodial records. The FHRADC will continue to observe the investigation’s progress, Lewaravu said, underscoring the commission’s role in safeguarding human rights while also channelling complaints to other remedies when appropriate.
No timeline for the CID investigation was released and prison authorities have not issued a public statement on the incident. Police and the commission both said they would provide updates as inquiries progress, but cautioned they could not offer further particulars while investigations are ongoing.
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