Court hearing for the former Director Internal Affairs, Acting Senior Superintendent of Police, Mohammed Talib Khan began at the Magistrates Court in Suva yesterday.

Khan appeared before Magistrate Liyanage Wickramasekara charged with one count of abuse of office.

It is alleged that on April 13, 2017 at Suva, Khan as the Acting Superintendent of Police, directed the unlawful arrest and detention of a person, which was in an abuse of the authority of his office and which was an arbitrary act.

Khan was represented by lawyer John Rabuku while Saif Shah appeared from the DPP’s Office as prosecutor.

In court yesterday, prosecution’s witness, Police Constable Inoke Tikomaimalevani told the court that he had given three statements to the Police in regards to the investigations against Khan.

Constable Tikomaimalevani testified that he gave the first statement to the Internal Affairs officers who were initially investigating the claims. He later gave a second statement because he was advised that the first statement was misplaced.

He further testified that when he was interviewed by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), he gave the third statement to them.

He added that he advised the CID officers of giving his statement already, however, Constable Tikomaimalevani claimed that the CID officers told him that the first two statements were recorded for the Internal Affairs procedures and docketed for them.

He confirmed to the court that he was aware of Khan being investigated for the same offence by the CID and the Internal Affairs Department.

The hearing continues before Magistrate Wickramasekara today.

Bail for Khan was extended by the Magistrates Court.

Edited by Selita Rabuku

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