Manner of detainment concerns politician

NATIONAL Federation Party leader Professor Biman Prasad says he is “concerned at the manner in which people are repeatedly arrested and detained” by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) or police.

He made the comment in relation to the detainment of Lautoka businessman Ben Padarath and his partner.

Prof Prasad said he noted that Mr Padarath had been charged by FICAC and would not comment on the charges or any matters in connection with the charges.

However, he said, “there must always be good reasons for depriving a person of their liberty”.

“Not even a person suspected of a crime should be detained unless the investigators honestly believe that the suspect is a flight risk or there is some other good reason for it,” the NFP leader said.

“Fiji law enforcement agencies, including the police when enforcing curfew breaches, seem to believe they have a right to detain people for 48 hours any time they want.

“That is not true. That right exists only if it is necessary to use it.”

Prof Prasad said the Fiji Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission “has refused to speak up on these repeated breaches of human rights, which have affected literally thousands of people since the curfew was enforced”.

“It is also the job of the Attorney-General and other government law officers, including the Legal Aid Commission, to speak up.

“They too are supposed to protect people from loss of their rights.”

Questions sent to Acting A-G Faiyaz Koya on the comments made by Prof Prasad remain unanswered.

FHRADC director Ashwin Raj said he would comment on the issue today.

When contacted yesterday, police spokeswoman Savaira Gonedua said they would not be making any comments on the issue.

... there must always be good reasons for depriving a person of their liberty – Prof Biman Prasad