Two nurses employed by the Fiji Corrections Service have been suspended and placed on half pay after being accused of inappropriate associations with inmates, the service said in a statement on Friday. The officers were stood down with immediate effect while a Board of Inquiry is convened to investigate the allegations and establish the facts.
The Fiji Corrections Service said the inquiry will be conducted under the institution’s internal disciplinary procedures. The statement did not name the nurses or identify the facility where the alleged incidents took place. The suspended officers will remain on half pay during the inquiry, the service confirmed.
Reiterating its zero-tolerance stance, the Corrections Service emphasised it is committed to preventing “undue familiarity” between staff and inmates as part of wider efforts to strengthen governance, professionalism and accountability across its ranks. The statement framed the suspensions as part of routine processes to address possible misconduct and to protect the integrity of prison operations.
This development is the latest in an evolving governance crisis at the Fiji Corrections Service. In recent months the service’s leadership has faced intense scrutiny: Commissioner Dr. Jalesi Nakarawa was placed on leave and later suspended amid separate allegations that triggered a constitutional-level review and plans for a tribunal to investigate his conduct. Acting leadership has been in place while those inquiries proceed.
Prison staff fraternising with inmates is treated as a serious security and integrity risk because it can undermine discipline, facilitate the smuggling of contraband, compromise rehabilitation programs and expose staff and inmates to harm. The Corrections Service’s public reminder about preventing undue familiarity echoes concerns raised during the broader probe into the agency’s governance and operational practices.
The Board of Inquiry into the nurses’ conduct will be tasked with collecting evidence, interviewing witnesses and making findings that could lead to disciplinary measures, ranging from reprimand to dismissal, depending on what is established. The Corrections Service’s statement did not say whether the police or other external bodies would be notified, nor did it indicate a timeline for the inquiry’s completion.
As the watchdog and administrative reviews continue to unfold, the latest suspensions signal the service’s effort to demonstrate active internal controls and adherence to disciplinary protocols. Further updates are expected once the Board of Inquiry reports its findings and senior authorities respond to any substantiated breaches.
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