A post-mortem examination was performed on Marika Radua, a farmer from Naviavia Village in Cakaudrove, who tragically passed away while in police custody at the Savusavu Police Station. This incident occurred after Radua was reportedly assaulted by another prisoner in the cell block.
Senior Superintendent of Police Kemueli Baledrokadroka, the Divisional Police Commander for the North, announced that the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has initiated a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding Radua’s death. “We will provide a further statement once the CID team concludes their inquiry,” SSP Baledrokadroka stated.
An earlier communication from the Fiji Police Force on Wednesday indicated that the Acting Commissioner of Police, Juki Fong Chew, had assigned the CID Headquarters to look into the matter. The police officers acted swiftly, transporting Radua to Savusavu Hospital, where he was sadly pronounced dead upon arrival.
According to local advisory councillor Marika Sade, Radua faced arrest early Tuesday morning after being accused of setting a family house on fire around 3 a.m. The loss has been particularly devastating for Radua’s mother, who is reportedly grappling with trauma due to the simultaneous loss of her home and her son, and is currently staying with relatives away from the village.
This incident raises significant concerns about the safety and treatment of individuals in police custody. However, it also highlights the prompt response from the local authorities to investigate and understand the circumstances that led to this tragedy. There is hope that through these investigations, measures can be implemented to prevent similar situations in the future and ensure the well-being of all individuals in custody.
Summary: Marika Radua died in police custody following an alleged assault by another prisoner. The police have initiated an investigation, with hopes that this will lead to improved safety measures in detention facilities.
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