Camera catches cops allegedly associating with drunken suspects

The Fiji Police Force is investigating an incident where two Police personnel were allegedly associating with a group of men who were drunk and disorderly at the Labasa Market.

The force’s Labasa Internal Affairs Unit (IAU) is conducting an investigation on the alleged misconduct of the alleged Police officers.

This was confirmed by the Acting Police Commissioner Juki Fong Chew.

Alleged incident

Labasa Town Council Special Administrator Ami Kohli said last Thursday around 1pm, the Labasa Market master Sailesh Nand received complaints that a group of male vendors filled an empty soft drink bottle with alcohol and were drunk and disorderly inside the market. He said some vendors complained that drug peddlers were allegedly part of the group.

“According to our 46 closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras, we saw two Police officers coming to this group, conversing and eating their snacks together, pretending to do patrol,” Mr Kohli claimed.

“Even though we have a Police market community post near the market, crime hasn’t decreased.

He said a group of officers came after an hour and asked if any official complaint was made by the vendors as by that time the alleged drug peddlers and disorderly vendors had dispersed.

Response from Police

Mr Chew, on the same day, assured that he would liaise with the Divisional Police Commander Northern, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Viliame Soko and asked what was happening to the issue.

On April 13, Mr Chew and Minister for Home Affairs and Immigration Pio Tikoduadua were briefed by the Labasa Police Station officer Inspector Lalit Chand and SSP Soko that Labasa market was a crime zone area.