3 Suspended Police constables front court for brutality charges
The case of three suspended Police Constables, charged for alleged brutality in Navua, was called at the High Court in Suva yesterday.
Benedito Bolabiu, 26, Laisenia Naiwau, 31, and Lasaro Turagadrau, 35, appeared before the Justice Thushara Rajasinghe.
They are accused of pouring hot water on the complainant’s back and hitting his legs with a cement block.
The charges
The trio are jointly charged with one count of assault causing actual bodily harm.
Bolabiu is also charged with one count each of acts intended to cause grievous harm and conspiracy to defeat justice and interference with witnesses.
Naiwau and Turagadrau are also facing a charge of aiding and abetting acts intended to cause grievous harm.
For the offence of assault causing actual bodily harm, it is alleged that Bolabiu, Naiwau and Turagadrau on November 5, 2019, at Navua, assaulted Manasa Rayasidamu.
For the offence of acts intended to cause grievous harm, it is alleged that Bolabiu at Pacific Harbour Community Police Post, unlawfully wounded Mr Rayasidamu by striking his leg with a concrete block and poured hot water on his back.
For the offence of conspiracy to defeat justice and interference with witnesses, it is alleged that Bolabiu attempted to pervert the cause of justice by telling Ilaitia Makasiale to lie to the Police when questioned about the case relating to Rayasidamu.
For the offence of aiding and abetting acts, it is alleged that Naiwau and Turagadrau, at Pacific Harbour Community Police Post, Navua, aided and abetted Bolabiu (the first accused), in committing the offences intended to cause grievous harm against Rayasidamu.
Yesterday, Shirley Tivao from the
Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, said two of four offences were indictable.
Defence counsel, Ana Tuiketei, told the court that the accused persons were not ready to take their plea and would also raise concerns on one of the charges.
The matter has been adjourned for mention on February 27.
Bail for the three suspended Police constables have been extended.