Get your facts right, says Raj
Commission responds to statement
LAUTOKA businessman Ben Padarath has the right to lodge a complaint with the Fiji Human Rights and Anti Discrimination Commission (FHRADC), says director Ashwin Raj.
He made the comment in response to a statement issued by National Federation Party leader Professor Biman Prasad about Mr Raj’s “silence” on Mr Padarath’s detainment by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) this week.
Mr Raj said Prof Prasad should get his facts right and stop misleading the nation.
“As indicated in the commission’s response to The Fiji Times on 31 March 2021, the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) is an independent body with powers to arrest, detain and prosecute,” said Mr Raj.
“If there is an alleged interdiction of his constitutional rights, Mr Padarath has the right to lodge a complaint with the FHRADC or alternatively raise these concerns in a court of law.”
Mr Raj said irrespective of whether an individual who was alleged to be in conflict with the law was a politician, political activist or an ordinary citizen, the stance of the commission remained the same.
“The rights of arrested and detained persons guaranteed under the Fijian Constitution applies to everyone and if law enforcement agencies have acted in an arbitrary manner, including the allegation that they have abused the 48-hour rule, resulting in the diminution of constitutionally guaranteed rights and freedoms of arrested and detained persons, lodge a complaint with the commission or raise it in a court of law.”