75 Hours? Constitutional rights breach claim in High Court

A Suva man who is facing burglary and theft charges has claimed his constitutional rights were breached by the Fiji Police Force because he was kept in custody for 75 hours before being brought to court.

Mausio Dominiko’s lawyer, Abhay Singh, has also claimed in the High Court in Suva that his client suffered death threats during the caution interview.

Dominiko appeared before Justice Daniel Goundar charged with one count each of aggravated robbery and theft. It is alleged that on February 11, 2019, in Suva, the accused stole $12,403.80, belonging to Mamacita Restaurant.

Mr Singh claimed that his client was kept in custody for 75 hours, which was a breach of his constitutional rights and that the Police officer conducting the interview was not in his official uniform.

Mr Singh further claimed that his client was taken to Rifle Range in Vatuwaqa where soldiers were practising live firing and his client was threatened to confess to the allegation.

State prosecutor Sujata Lodhia of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions asked for time to check on the circumstances pertaining to the confession and to file a response to the bail application. She also told the court that $800 was recovered from the accused at the time of the arrest.

Ms Lodhia said the accused was recognised through CCTV footage.

The State was given time to file and serve the response to the bail application on March 15. The matter was adjourned for bail hearing to March 20.

The accused was further remanded in custody.

Edited by Epineri Vula

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