Family seeks investigation into death of CRW soldier
THE family of one of the Counter Revolutionary Warfare Unit soldiers who died during the November 2000 mutiny wants an investigation into his death.
Selesitino Kalounivale Jr has filed a report at the Totogo Police Station that his father, Selesitino Kalounivale Sr, was murdered at the Queen Elizabeth Barracks on November 2, 2000.
Acting Commissioner of Police Juki Fong Chew confirmed that police had received a report.
“We may need to gather more information, (look at) what investigation had been done before we may proceed,” he said.
Mr Kalounivale Sr’s death followed a mutiny attempt by a group of soldiers at the Queen Elizabeth Barracks in November 2000.
Corporal Kalounivale was pronounced dead just after midnight on the day of the mutiny from injuries he sustained after an alleged beating by loyalist soldiers.
In April 2006, the Suva Magistrate’s Court awarded Mr Kalounivale’s widow $24,000 in workmen’s compensation. Magistrate Ajmal Khan was reported at the time to find that there was no evidence that Mr Kalounivale Sr was a mutineer.
The court found that at the time of his arrest, Corporal Kalounivale had a knapsack which contained camouflaged army trousers, a detonator, a cord, a knife and a water container.
He said Corporal Kalounivale was taken to the naval base and then to the Central Police Station in Suva after which he was picked up by soldiers.
He was pronounced dead when taken to the hospital at midnight.
Mr Khan said a postmortem found that hat the deceased died from severe injuries resulting from beating.
The five CRW soldiers who were killed in November 2000 were Mr Kalounivale, Jone Davui, Epeneri Bainimoli, Lagani Rokowaqa and Iowane Waseroma.