The following data is authorised for release by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) and relates to the number of formal indictments (Information) filed in the High Courts of Fiji by the Director of Public Prosecutions throughout the month.

This data is confined to incidents of serious crimes other than sexual violence offences which are recorded and published separately.

This data also includes offences committed by Police officers.

There were 86 people charged with a total of 69 counts of separate incidents in July. The offences were aggravated robbery (13), attempted aggravated robbery (two), robbery with violence (two), aggravated burglary (15), theft (21), assault occasioning actual bodily harm (six), act with intent to cause grievous harm (three), dangerous driving causing grievous harm (one), careless use of motor vehicle (one), possession of cannabis (one), false pretence (one), obtaining by deception (one), conspiracy to defeat justice (one) and resisting arrest (one).

Of these 86 people charged, 12 were Police officers.

Three Police officers were charged with a count each of theft. They are alleged to have stolen over $13,000 collected from people who were served with committal warrants and fine payments imposed by the courts. Six Police officers were charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

They are alleged to have assaulted people during Police drug raids.

One Police officer was charged with the careless use of a motor vehicle. He was alleged to have caused an accident while responding to a phone call.

One Police officer was charged with one count of false pretence and one count of obtaining by deception. He is alleged to have defrauded a victim of $2900. Another Police officer was charged with one count of conspiracy to defeat justice whereby he is alleged to have induced a witness to give a false statement.

There were two juveniles who were also charged with attempted robbery and aggravated robbery.

There were 53 victims of these serious offences. Two of whom were victims of domestic disputes.

Cash amounts ranging from $50 to over $15,000 were stolen from individuals, homes and shops during the alleged aggravated robbery and aggravated burglary offences. Household items, laptops, motor vehicles, jewellery and basic food items were also stolen during these incidents. There was one incident where a school teacher was charged with one count of aggravated burglary and theft offences. He was alleged to have stolen over $5000 with two other accused persons.

One person was found in possession of five kg of cannabis.

Three cases were withdrawn after discontinuances (Nolle Prosequi) were filed.

Two of these three cases were withdrawn after evidence was received of police brutality in obtaining confessions from the accused persons.

Refer to the table entitled ODPP Serious Crime (Non-Sexual Violence Offences) Statistics July 2017 for a break-down of these statistics.

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