Council suspends officer

THE Nasinu Town Council has suspended an enforcement officer whose video went viral on social media.

The alleged altercation between Nasinu Town Council enforcement officers and a vendor selling vegetables occurred on Ratu Dovi Rd, near the Kinoya Sewage Plant on Tuesday this week.

The incident was prompted by a vegetable vendor who was allegedly conducting business from a truck parked illegally in the middle of the road.

Council chairman Felix Magnus clarified that upon learning of the existence of the extensively viewed video, the council convened an emergency meeting to thoroughly review the incident and hear from the two officers implicated.

The meeting was attended by the full council and the enforcement officers involved.

Following the meeting, the council tribunal ruled that one of the enforcement officers depicted in the video be placed on two weeks paid leave, with immediate effect, to allow for a thorough investigation of the incident and a comprehensive and independent investigation of the officer’s conduct.

“While the vegetable vendor may be legally in the wrong, the officers involved could have found other ways of dealing with the issue in a more mature and rational manner,” Mr Magnus said.

“The Nasinu Town Council sincerely regrets any distress or inconvenience caused by the incident and is committed to taking all necessary steps to address the situation responsibly and transparently.

“We thank the public for their patience and understanding as we work to resolve this matter and reaffirm our dedication to serving the Nasinu community with integrity and respect.”