Govt probes prisoners’ recapture tactic

Fiji’s Government has launched an investigation into the use of excessive force in the recapture of four of the five prisoners who escaped from the Naboro Medium Facility Monday night.

Solomoni Qurai, Tevita Sugu, Josaia Usumaki and Epeli Qaraniqio were recaptured Friday evening in Lami. They were supposed to appear in court on Monday, but were not fit to do so because of injuries they sustained in their recapture.

The four are admitted at CWM Hospital's ICU unit in Suva under police guard.

Ministry of Information spokeswoman Sharon Smith-Johns said such incidents are unfortunate and unacceptable.

“The Fijian Government does not condone the excessive force used in the apprehension of the recaptured prisoners,” Smith-Johns said.

“Such incidents are unfortunate and the Government makes it clear that  behaviour of this nature is unacceptable. We are investigating the circumstances.”

However, Fiji Police Chief of Operations ACP Rusiate Tudravu told FijiLive yesterday that reasonable force was used to recapture the escapees who had resisted arrest.

ACP Tudravu said some officers also sustained injuries while trying to recapture the four.

Isoa Waqa who was apprehended in Laqere yesterday morning has also been admitted to the CWM Hospital.

By Ropate Valemei