ODPP: 16 FORMER AND CURRENT
officers from disciplined forces among 71 people charged with serious crimes
The following data is authorised for release by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) and relates to the number of formal indictments ( Information) filed in the High Courts of Fiji by the Director of Public Prosecutions throughout the month.
This data is confined to incidents of serious crimes other than sexual violence offences which are recorded and published separately. This data also includes offences committed by Police officers.
There were 71 people charged with a total of 67 counts of separate incidents in August. The offences were murder (one), attempted murder (two), aggravated robbery (eight), robbery (one), aggravated burglary (13), burglary (two), theft (16), receiving stolen property (one), arson (one), assault causing actual bodily harm (five), act with intent to cause grievous harm (three), assault (one), abuse of office (two), domestic trafficking in children (one), unlawful cultivation of illicit drugs (one), unlawful possession of illicit drugs (six), obstructing a Police officer (one), careless driving (one) and dangerous driving (one).
Of the 71 accused persons, seven were juveniles, nine were Police officers, three were former Police officers and four were corrections officers. The juveniles were charged with aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary and theft offences.
A 21-year-old Police officer was charged with two counts of unlawful possession of illicit drugs namely cannabis sativa and methamphetamine while a 30-year-old police officer was charged with one count of unlawful possession of illicit drugs.
A 26-year-old Police officer was charged with assault causing actual bodily harm to a 24-year-old woman while a 35-year-old police officer was charged with assault causing actual bodily harm to a seven-year-old girl. A 52-year-old Police officer was charged with one count of abuse of office for allegedly seizing property belonging to a 23-yearold woman without a search warrant while a 35-year-old Police officer was charged with one count of abuse of office for ordering the unlawful arrest and detention of a 36-yearold man.
A 21-year-old Police officer was charged with one count of obstructing a Police officer. A 48-year-old Police officer was charged with one count of careless driving while a 29-year-old Police officer was charged with one count of dangerous driving.
There were three separate incidents where former Police officers were charged with unlawful possession of illicit drugs. A 32-year-old, a 33-year-old and a 43-year-old Police officer were allegedly found in possession of cannabis sativa.
Four corrections officers were charged with the murder of a 39-year-old prisoner at the Natabua Remand Centre. The corrections officers were also charged with assault causing actual bodily harm and assault of two other prisoners.
There were 57 victims of the 67 counts of separate incidents.
There were three incidents where the accused and the victims were related to one another. A 34-year-old man was charged with attempted murder and arson. The accused allegedly attempted to kill his 10-year-old and 19-year-old sons by setting the house on fire. A 33-year-old woman was charged with an act with intent to cause grievous harm to her 60-year-old mother.
The woman allegedly struck her mother with an iron rod and poured hot tea on her. In another incident, a 25-year-old man was charged with an act with intent to cause grievous harm to his 37-year-old brother. There was one incident where a 49-year-old was charged with an act with intent to cause
grievous harm to a 49-year-old man, however, this matter was discontinued after the death of the accused person.
There was one incident where a 43-year-old assistant principal was charged with assault causing actual bodily harm to 17 pupils of his school. A 21-year-old woman was charged with one count of domestic trafficking in children. The woman allegedly facilitated
the transportation of a 16-year-old and a 17-year-old girl with the intent that the victims be used to provide sexual services.
A 50-year-old man was charged with one count of unlawful cultivation of illicit drugs. He allegedly cultivated 1300 plants of cannabis sativa. Cash and assorted items ranging from $87 to $24,700 were stolen during the alleged aggravated robbery, aggravated bur
glary and theft offences which consisted of home invasions, office and shop burglaries, and daylight and night street robberies. Seven cases were withdrawn after discontinuances (Nolle Prosequi) were filed due to insufficient evidence, evidence of police abuse, and death of the accused person.