Death of inmate: Family wants answers

The family of a deceased remandee has questioned why the Fiji Corrections Service (FCS) failed to notify them of the incident that led to the death of their loved one.

George David Komainaua suffered burns to 26.5 per cent of his total body surface area after another remandee allegedly poured hot water on him.

The incident happened on October 24 inside the Suva Remand Centre’s kitchen, where Mr Komainaua was assigned kitchen duties.

He died of sepsis while admitted at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital in Suva on October 30.

Sepsis is a life-threatening condition in which the body's response to infection causes damage to vital organs such as the lungs, kidneys or heart.

His older sister, Merewalesi Baleilekutu, said their brother had informed the family of the incident before he died.

“There was another remandee who kept asking my brother to give him a gas lighter, but my brother refused, until the other remandee filled a bucket with hot water and threatened my brother with it. My brother daringly told him to do it not knowing that the other remandee would really do it,” she said.

Ms Baleilekutu said their brother had claimed there were no corrections officers present when the incident happened. She further claimed that no corrections officer had visited their brother.

“We are concerned that if this happened to my brother, it could happen to anybody else inside that remand centre.”

Ms Baleilekutu claimed that no report was immediately lodged with the police. She said she lodged a complaint last Thursday at the Totogo Police Station.

Mr Komainaua was remanded in February this year over an alleged assault during an alleged drinking party. He was laid to rest last Friday beside his father on Koro Island, as he had wished.

Two deaths in eight days

Two inmates have died at corrections facilities within eight days.

In a statement yesterday, FCS said both incidents were being investigated and appropriate action would be taken based on the findings.

FCS confirmed the deaths of 29-year-old Mr Komainaua and 39-year-old Inia Naqia, who was at the Lautoka Correction Centre.

FCS said Mr Komainaua allegedly suffered serious burns when another remandee poured hot water over him while they were preparing dinner at the remand centre.

According to FCS, Mr Komainaua received immediate medical attention before being transferred to the Colonial War Memorial Hospital for further treatment.

However, his condition later deteriorated after he developed sepsis, which was confirmed as the cause of his death.

“The matter was referred to the Fiji Police Force, while an internal Board of Inquiry has been established to investigate the incident,” FCS said.

The second death involved Mr Naqia, who experienced a medical emergency on November 7 while accommodated at the Lautoka Corrections Centre infirmary.

FCS said Mr Naqia had an existing medical condition affecting his brain and had previously received hospital treatment. However, FCS said he later refused to undergo an MRI scan.

A duty nurse provided emergency medical assistance before he was transferred to Aspen-managed Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at about 10.52am.

His official cause of death is yet to be confirmed after his family refused an autopsy.

FCS Acting Commissioner Auta Moceisuva extended his condolences to the families of both deceased inmates.

“FCS placed great importance on the safety and welfare of all inmates under its care.”