Family Demands Answers after Tragic Death in Police Cell

A tragic incident at Savusavu Police Station has left a family shattered and the community in shock.

Marika Radua, a farmer from Naviavia Settlement in Cakaudrove, died on Tuesday after he was allegedly beaten by a cellmate.

His grieving family is now demanding answers and accountability from the authorities.

Radua was arrested early Tuesday for an alleged offence and held in custody for almost six hours. According to his aunt, Unaisi Solaila, her cousin, Samuela Male, had visited Radua that morning and found him locked in a cell with two other men-one believed to be mentally challenged. Male claims he heard Radua's desperate cries for help at around 11am but, fearing repercussions, did not intervene.

An hour later, police officers carried Radua's lifeless body out of the cell.

"They treated him like rubbish," Ms Solaila recalled.

"It was clear he had already died."

The grieving family is left with unsettling questions: Where were the police during the alleged attack?

Why was a mentally challenged individual sharing a cell with other detainees? And why did Radua's pleas for help go unanswered?

Ms Solaila, whose cousin regrets not intervening sooner, voiced the family's frustration: "People are supposed to be safe in police custody. How could this happen?"

The tragedy has spurred community outrage, with calls for an overhaul of Savusavu Police Station personnel.

Savusavu Town Council's special administrator, Shiu Shankar Singh, voiced his concerns: "For months, I've raised issues about police misconduct in Savusavu, but nothing has changed.

"This is a serious problem."

Mr Singh suggested immediate action to restore public trust and professional standards within the station.

The police have since confirmed that Acting Police Commissioner Juki Fong Chew has ordered an investigation by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID). In a statement, the police reported that Radua was allegedly assaulted by another detainee and that officers had rushed him to the hospital, but was pronounced dead.

The Fiji Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission has also expressed concern.

Commission chairperson Pravesh Sharma said: "This incident raises critical questions about safety protocols within police custody. The State is responsible for those held in custody."

Radua's family, still reeling from the loss of their home in a recent fire, now faces the heartbreaking reality of losing a loved one under such tragic circumstances.

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