Ex-Corrections officer denies assault orders

Onisimo Raboiliku denied ordering Corrections officers to kick and punch the late remand prisoner Jone Masirewa.

Raboiliku testified as a defence witness during the murder trial of the late Masirewa, who died at the Lautoka Remand Centre on April 13, 2020.

Mr Masirewa died from severe traumatic abdominal and chest injuries, as well as severe hemoperitoneum. Raboiliku, along with former Corrections officers Semesa Bulikalougata and Navitalai Kanavo, is charged in connection with the case.

Raboiliku and Bulikalougata each face one count of murder and assault causing actual bodily harm, while Kanavo and Suliasi Tubuna face lesser charges of assault causing actual bodily harm.

Raboiliku and Bulikalougata were cross-examined by State lawyer Sheenal Swastika before Justice Aruna Aluthge at the High Court in Lautoka on Wednesday.

In 2020, Raboiliku was the chief officer of the Natabua Remand Centre in Lautoka, responsible for cleanliness, discipline of Correctional officers, and inmate management.

At the trial on Tuesday, Tubuna, a former temporary Corrections officer, revealed he was granted immunity on February 28, to testify for the State.

He told the court that they were following orders from the 2IC, Raboiliku, to carry out a drill exercise on the victim, Mr Masirewa, and another remand prisoner, Jone Nawalu, due to their ill-mannered behaviour toward prison officers on the night of April 12, 2020.

He stated that the order from Raboiliku included kicking and punching the victim.

Tubuna said he hit the second remand prisoner, Mr Nawalu, and not Mr Masirewa.

Raboiliku denied Tubuna’s allegation, stating that the officers assigned to the drilling exercise had complained that the late Masirewa was swearing at them and resisting orders.

The court heard the next day, Raboiliku advised inmates to be patient with COVID-19 procedures after a complaint about segregation.

He denied ordering officers to kick or punch inmates, saying he only instructed them to hose the inmates down. Busy with other duties, he was unaware of what happened to Masirewa until he was told that Masirewa had passed out and was receiving CPR from officers and a nurse.

He said they immediately took the inmates to the hospital but were later told by the nurse that Masirewa had passed away.

Cross-examination

During cross-examination, Ms Swastika suggested that Raboiliku used the metal front of a fire extinguisher to beat Masirewa until he lost consciousness. He denied these allegations.

Raboiliku was represented by Eroni Maopa while the second witness, Bulikalougata was represented by Samuela Heritage.

Bulikalougata denied that he was involved in punching and kicking the late Masirewa. He told the court that he placed his legs to cover Masirewa’s head and after he fell to the ground.

The case was adjourned to July 30, when the defense counsel will submit their final arguments.

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