In the latest development in an 18-year legal battle over one of Fiji’s deadliest road accidents, New India Assurance Company Ltd and Raiwaqa Buses Ltd have deposited a combined $253,350.73 into the Chief Registrar’s trust account as compensation for two survivors of a fatal 2008 bus fire.
The payments, made in compliance with a Supreme Court order, were disclosed to Chief Justice Salesi Temo. New India Assurance, the insurer for Raiwaqa Buses Ltd, told the court it had paid $158,956.75, while Raiwaqa Buses Ltd lodged $94,393.98. Lawyers for both respondents confirmed the funds had been placed into the Chief Registrar’s trust account.
The compensation relates to an August 2008 blaze near Sigatoka in which a Raiwaqa Buses Ltd vehicle caught fire, killing 12 passengers and injuring around 50 others. Survivors Sakiusa Soli and his grandson, Sakiusa Soli Jr, are among those who brought suit, alleging negligence by the driver, Kaminieli Tuimavana, and the bus company in the operation and maintenance of the vehicle.
Court documents show the insurer has acted to meet the immediate financial obligation ordered by the Supreme Court, but the substantive legal dispute is ongoing. The insurer, identified in court filings as the petitioner in related proceedings, and the respondents — Mr Soli, his grandson and Raiwaqa Buses Ltd — have been given timelines to file replies in the substantive matter. The insurer is required to file its reply by 4pm on June 8, with Justice Temo scheduled to conduct a general review of the case on June 9.
The deposit into the Chief Registrar’s trust account means the monies are being held by the court pending resolution of outstanding legal issues, rather than being released directly to the claimants at this stage. Lawyers for the respondents confirmed the placement of funds but did not provide further comment to the court record on whether the payments settle the claims or are interim measures pending final judgment.
The Sigatoka bus fire has remained a high-profile and tragic entry in Fiji’s road safety history. That survivors are still pursuing legal redress nearly two decades on highlights the prolonged nature of some personal injury and negligence proceedings, particularly where multiple parties, insurers and complex legal questions are involved.
Justice Temo’s upcoming review will determine next procedural steps and whether the deposited funds will be distributed or retained until final orders are made. The court’s handling of the case in the coming days will clarify whether this payment represents a meaningful move toward compensating victims or is an interim compliance measure within a wider, unresolved legal contest.
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