A taxi driver, Aiyaz Dean Mohammed, claims he was assaulted by two men in Labasa last week and that his pleas for help went unheeded by the responding police officers. In an interview, he shared that despite sustaining severe injuries, the officers did not take him to the hospital.
Mr. Mohammed described the incident, stating that a private vehicle, believed to be operating illegally as a taxi, unexpectedly blocked his path. The two men then exited the vehicle and began attacking him. He expressed frustration that police informed him he could be charged for making an illegal U-turn instead of helping him first.
He noted that he lost two teeth in the attack and required hospitalization. Mahend Prasad, president of the Labasa Taxi Association, voiced concerns about some traffic officers not fulfilling their responsibilities adequately, leading to an atmosphere of fear among local cab drivers following the assault.
Divisional Police Commander SSP Kemueli Baledrokadroka refrained from commenting extensively but acknowledged being informed about the incident later. He mentioned that it occurred on a Tuesday, while the report was filed on Friday. He also confirmed that an investigation is underway, adding that authorities have obtained surveillance footage of the alleged assault and believe the suspects may be from Suva.