Tevita Boseiwaqa, the chair of the Suva City Council’s special administrator, has announced that an investigation is underway concerning an alleged sexual assault of a Hibiscus contestant on the night of the pageant’s crowning.
Boseiwaqa indicated that the council has engaged an external investigative unit that specializes in women’s rights issues, and it is expected to finish its work by next week. “We are meeting with the investigative team this afternoon. They are experienced professionals who have dealt with such issues before,” he stated.
The council’s decision to investigate followed a request from the minister. “We have taken steps accordingly, and by next week, we anticipate having clarity on the situation, as currently, everything is based on assumptions,” he added.
The contestant, who wishes to remain anonymous, reported to The Fiji Times that she was allegedly sexually harassed by a man invited by a senior official during the event on September 7. She recounted, “During the crowning night, the man was intoxicated and slapped me on the back.” A fellow contestant intervened and demanded an apology from him, but an unwanted advance followed, which she managed to reject. The incident prompted her to seek permission to leave early, which was initially denied until after the harassment occurred.
She was scheduled to meet with the Suva City Council to discuss an apology to her family, but the meeting was canceled. Furthermore, she has filed her complaint with the Totogo Police Station and revealed that a senior official from the Hibiscus committee is arranging an “apology lunch.”