Commissioner will not comment on PM’s claim over officer's death

Police Commissioner Rusiate Tudravu says he would not comment on Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka’s suggestion that the killing of Constable Peniasi Racagi may be linked to retaliating drug gangs.

Speaking at the launch of the Drug Free Sport Fiji Anti-Doping Organisation logo at the Novotel Suva Lami Bay on Saturday, Mr Rabuka said he could not attend Constable Racagi’s funeral in Bua because of the event.

However, Mr Rabuka stated that the killing could be linked to “retaliatory operation by those that might have been intercepted or interrupted in their operations in the promotion of drugs.”

Two suspects from Qauia in Lami have already been charged with the alleged murder and appeared in court last week.

Responding to the Prime Minister’s comment, Commissioner Tudravu said: “That is his comment. I don’t want to comment on it.”

Attempts to obtain further details from Police, including whether a woman was being questioned at the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), were unanswered at press time.

This masthead has been reliably informed that what appears to be an audio recording from a Police interview with a woman who was with Constable Racagi and others has been described as damning.

The recording is now with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) as authorities review it.

It is understood that the woman has been placed in a safe house for her safety.

Constable Racagi, 24, was found dead near Lami, with post-mortem results confirming foul play.

Two men from Qauia, Lami — Keni Salawai, 42, and Jope Seniloli, 20 — have been charged with murder and are due to appear in the High Court in Suva on March 13.

The young police officer was laid to rest in Bua on Saturday.