Police have begun investigating a complaint of alleged sexual harassment filed by a contestant of the Miss Hibiscus pageant. Ana Naisoro, a police spokesperson, confirmed that a report was submitted to the Totogo Police Station on Friday, and an inquiry is currently in progress.
The allegations emerged after a contestant reported being inappropriately touched by a guest during the crowning ceremony on September 7. This incident was brought to the attention of Maciu Nalumisa, the Minister for Local Government, who has initiated an internal investigation into the claims.
Mr. Nalumisa stated that a team is dedicated to investigating the matter to determine the events of that night. He emphasized the importance of maintaining professionalism to protect the interests of all contestants, asserting, “We will get to the bottom and find out what really happened.” He expects the investigation to be completed within the week.
Last week, Mr. Nalumisa communicated with Tevita Boseiwaqa, the chairperson of the Suva City Council’s special administration, who is also involved in the investigative team. The contestant has formally reported the incident to the police, previously hoping to await the return of a witness from abroad before proceeding. After discussing the situation with her family, she chose to report the incident without further delay.
The contestant claims that an intoxicated man jabbed her on the back, and she immediately alerted event officials about the situation. Meanwhile, Mr. Nalumisa mentioned that drinking alcohol can never be used as an excuse for such inappropriate actions.