An investigation is underway after a Chinese national was reportedly injured in an incident at Naboro Maximum Prison, the correctional facility outside Suva, authorities and the Chinese embassy said on Tuesday.
The Fiji Corrections Service acknowledged the occurrence in a short statement but declined to provide further details, saying inquiries were ongoing. “Yes, there was an incident, and we cannot comment any further as investigations are currently underway,” the service said. It added that established protocols for incidents inside Corrections Centres would be followed and reiterated that “the welfare of all inmates and officers inside our various centres remains paramount in all our daily operations.”
Separately, the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Fiji said it was verifying reports that the detainee had suffered serious injuries. Embassy official Peter Liao told reporters the matter remained under review as officials sought to confirm the circumstances and condition of the person involved.
Neither the Corrections Service nor the embassy provided the injured person’s name, age or details about the nature of the injuries, and there was no immediate comment from police or health authorities. It was also not disclosed when the incident occurred or whether other inmates or officers were involved or hurt. Fiji Corrections indicated that more information would be released when the investigation allowed.
The involvement of a foreign national has prompted diplomatic attention while local authorities work through investigatory procedures. The embassy’s public confirmation that it is seeking verification marks the first known overseas diplomatic response to the incident; Peter Liao did not specify what steps Beijing’s representatives in Suva might take beyond monitoring and verification.
This development follows broader attention on custodial safety and oversight in Fiji, though officials have not linked the Naboro incident to other reported events. The Corrections Service statement underlined that prescribed protocols would guide the inquiry, suggesting internal procedural reviews and potential collaboration with other agencies, but stopped short of outlining a timeline for findings or outcomes.
Authorities and the Chinese embassy said they would provide updates as their enquiries progress. For now, the precise cause of the incident and the injured detainee’s condition remain unconfirmed publicly, and questions persist about what prompted the investigation and how soon further information will be made available.
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