A taxi driver who was reportedly assaulted by two men in Labasa last week has alleged that his call for help was disregarded by the responding police officers. Aiyaz Dean Mohammed spoke out about the incident, stating that despite suffering severe injuries, he was not taken to the hospital by the police.
Mohammed recounted how a private vehicle, suspected of operating illegally as a taxi, suddenly blocked his path, and two men exited the car to attack him. He claimed that when he sought assistance from the officers, they informed him that he would face charges for making an illegal U-turn rather than addressing his injuries.
“I would have accepted this if they had taken my issues into consideration first,” he expressed, noting that he lost two teeth during the assault and required hospitalization.
Mahend Prasad, president of the Labasa Taxi Association, criticized some traffic officers for their lack of diligence in performing their duties. He pointed out that local taxi drivers are now working in an atmosphere of fear following the incident involving Mohammed.
Divisional Police Commander SSP Kemueli Baledrokadroka refrained from commenting in detail, stating that he became aware of the situation only after Prasad brought it to his attention. He acknowledged that the incident occurred on Tuesday, with a report filed on Friday, and confirmed that an investigation is currently underway. Baledrokadroka revealed that surveillance footage of the incident has been obtained and that the suspects are believed to be from Suva.