A post-mortem examination was carried out on Thursday for a farmer who passed away while in custody at the Savusavu Police Station. Marika Radua, from Naviavia Village in Cakaudrove, died on Tuesday, reportedly following an assault by another prisoner in the cell block.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kemueli Baledrokadroka, the Divisional Police Commander for the North, confirmed that a Criminal Investigation Department (CID) team has begun an inquiry into the incident. “Once CID officers complete their work, we will be releasing further information,” SSP Baledrokadroka stated.
In a preliminary statement, the Fiji Police Force indicated that Acting Police Commissioner Juki Fong Chew has assigned CID officers from the headquarters to conduct a thorough investigation. According to the report, police rushed Mr. Radua to the Savusavu Hospital, where he was sadly pronounced dead upon arrival.
Marika Sade, the advisory councillor for Naviavia Village, revealed that Mr. Radua was arrested around 6 a.m. on Tuesday for allegedly setting a family house ablaze at approximately 3 a.m. This tragic event has left his mother in severe distress, as she not only lost her home but also her son in the same week. Currently, she is staying with relatives away from the village for support.
This incident underscores the urgent need for effective measures in custodial care to prevent such tragedies in the future. As the investigation unfolds, there is hope that it will bring clarity and potentially lead to improvements in the system to safeguard the welfare of individuals in police custody.
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