Police commend taxi driver

The action of a taxi driver has been commended by the Fiji Police Force.

The said taxi driver assisted in the arrest of two men involved in an alleged aggravated robbery case over the weekend.

Chief of Intelligence and Investigations, Assistant Commissioner of Police Biu Matavou said: “A report was received whereby four armed masked men allegedly threatened a cashier of the Total Service Station on Saturday night before midnight and stole cash and assorted items worth more than $3000.”

“The suspects fled in a stolen taxi and a 56-year-old taxi driver who saw what took place followed the vehicle and alerted a patrol team from the Police Special Response Unit whereby a chase ensued along Khalsa Road and into Colo-i-Suva.

“The team of pursuing officers consisting of personnel from the Southern Division, Police Special Response Unit and K9 managed to arrest two suspects at the scene while two others fled.

“In custody are a 19-year-old suspect of Nasese and a 26-year-old of Kinoya and full recovery of the stolen items has also been made,” he said.

ACP Matavou said the investigation team was following some leads and the focus was on arresting the other two suspects.

“The action of the taxi driver in assisting us is greatly appreciated as it goes in line with the Commissioner of Police’s call for community partnerships whereby people are speaking up and saying no to crime,” he said.

“By working together we are essentially sending a strong message to would be criminals that silence is no longer an option.

“And through the Duavata Community Policing arm of the Fiji Police Force we will continue to exchange information to help put a stop to these offences from taking place.”

Police Media Cell

Parents, guardians monitor children’s activities: Police

With a little over a week before the start of another school year, Police are again pleading with parents and guardians to monitor their children’s activities at all times.

This is also in light of the recent accident that claimed the life of a four-year-old in Rakiraki last week as investigators will now be looking into the issue of negligence considering the alleged circumstances surrounding her death.

As allegations are that she ran onto the road as she was allegedly being chased by a relative in the New Year’s ritual of splashing water on her, it was unfortunate that the incident resulted in her death.

The driver alleged to have bumped the victim has been interviewed and released, and the focus of the investigation has now shifted to the issue of negligence and the supervision of the child.

With the New Year’s celebrations still evident in many communities, Police have noted with concerns the presence of young children on our busy roads and this is why Police are making this plea once again.

As Police have stated on numerous occasions, the pain of losing a child is a lot to bear and the addition of negligence charges placed on parents and guardians is an added grief which Police never want anyone to experience.

However, this can only be avoided if our call for supervision is taken seriously.

Meanwhile, the second fatal case involving a 10-year-old child along the Naqoro flats is being compiled and the file will be sent to the Office of the Director Public Prosecutions for sanctioning.

Police Media Cell

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