Police Look Into Claims Of Bus Driver-Passenger Assault

Police have started a probe into allegations of assault involving a bus driver and a female passenger at the Savusavu Bus Stand yesterday morning. According to a video clip it is understood that a disagreement broke out between the driver and passenger after the latter refused to show her bus ticket for travel from Drekeniwai to Labasa. Vishnu Holdings Limited manager operations, Shonal Dutt, sent an email to the officer-in-charge at Savusavu Police Station to seek an explanation why the report was not formally lodged in the first place when his driver visited the station.

Police spokesperson, Ana Naisoro, refuted claims that their officers in Savusavu failed to register a formal complaint because both the driver and the passenger did not want to lodge a report.

“Both parties were at the station, but they left without anyone lodging an official report,” she said. She said the OC had gone to visit Mr Dutt on the allegations of unethical police conduct and to understand the situation that actually transpired.

However, Ms Naisoro said there were allegations also labelled by the passenger that she was assaulted by the driver prior to a video being recorded by the driver.

Ms Naisoro responded to the email sent by Mr Dutt to the Officer in Charge (OC) of Savusavu Police Station.

“The woman claimed to have been threatened for not paying her fare which she claimed she did, but, had lost the receipt,” Ms Naisoro said.

Manager operations, Shonal Dutt, said the assault incident was referred to Police for the safety concerns of his driver.

He claimed the OC for Savusavu Police Station did visit him and said the matter was handled by Police.