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Illustration of Family Demands Answers after Tragic Death in Police Cell

Tragedy Strikes: Community Demands Justice After Death in Custody

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A devastating incident at the Savusavu Police Station has left a family in mourning and the local community deeply unsettled. Marika Radua, a farmer from Naviavia Settlement in Cakaudrove, tragically lost his life after reportedly being attacked by a cellmate.

Radua had been taken into custody early on Tuesday for an alleged offense and remained locked up for nearly six hours. His aunt, Unaisi Solaila, shares that her cousin, Samuela Male, visited Radua and discovered he was housed in a cell with two other men, one of whom is thought to be mentally challenged. Male overheard Radua’s cries for help around 11 a.m., but out of fear of possible repercussions, he did not intervene. It was just an hour later when police officers were seen carrying Radua’s lifeless body from the cell.

Solaila expressed her heartbreak, stating, “They treated him like rubbish,” and noted that it was obvious he had already passed away. The family is left grappling with unsettling questions, including the police’s whereabouts during the assault and why a mentally challenged individual was placed in the same cell. Furthermore, they are questioning why Radua’s pleas for assistance went unheeded.

The incident has ignited community outrage and calls for a complete overhaul of the personnel at Savusavu Police Station. Shiu Shankar Singh, the special administrator for Savusavu Town Council, has raised concerns about ongoing police misconduct and calls for urgent action to rebuild public trust in local law enforcement.

In response to the tragedy, the Acting Police Commissioner, Juki Fong Chew, has initiated an investigation by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID). The police acknowledged that Radua was allegedly assaulted by another detainee and that efforts were made to rush him to the hospital, but he was pronounced dead upon arrival.

The Fiji Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission has also expressed alarm over the situation. Commission chairperson Pravesh Sharma emphasized the need for serious reflection on the safety protocols in place for those in police custody, stressing that the State must take responsibility for the welfare of individuals held in their care.

Compounding the family’s grief, they are still recovering from the loss of their home in a recent fire, now facing the devastating reality of losing a loved one under such tragic circumstances.

This heartbreaking event serves as a critical reminder of the responsibility of authorities to ensure the safety and well-being of all individuals in custody. As the investigation unfolds, there is hope that meaningful changes will come about, restoring faith in law enforcement and preventing such tragedies from occurring in the future.


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