Former Police officer Viliame Vereivalu will be reinstated into the Fiji Police Force.

This was confirmed by Commissioner of Police, Brigadier-General Sitiveni Qiliho, adding that Mr Vereivalu would be reinstated with six years of his benefits and wages.

Mr Vereivalu, ex-Police officer Jona Davonu and ex-military personnel Pita Matairavula, who were sentenced to nine years in jail in November 2016, for rape and sexual assault, had their convictions quashed last month by the Supreme Court following their petition to the Supreme Court of Fiji.

The Supreme Court of Fiji Coram of Judges, Justice Anthony Gates, Justice Brian Keith, and Justice Priyasath Dep found that the trio were wrongfully jailed on the allegations of rape and assault of Vilikesa Soko and Iowane Benedito.

Mr Soko and Mr Benedito were victims of brutality and were injured. They had endured prolonged punching, beating, kicking, and the pain and indignity of anal penetration with chilies and a stick.

The Coram ordered leave to the petitioners (Mr Vereivalu, Mr Davonu and Mr Matairavula) to appeal and appeal be allowed.

The Coram quashed their convictions and said there no order for a retrial.

As for Mr Davonu, it is understood that he had shown interest in joining the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF).

The RFMF Commander, Major-General Ro Jone Kalouniwai, said RFMF would look into the matter concerning Mr Matairavula.

“The case has been quashed and that means that they were wrongly imprisoned,” Major-General Kalouniwai said.

“We will definitely look into it, but we haven’t done anything at the moment. Only one soldier was part of the group that were accused.”

Story by: ashna.kumar@fijisun.com.fj