FLP demands truth amid contradictory claims over custody death

Calls for answers are growing louder following the death of drug accused, Jone Vakarisi, as two sharply conflicting accounts have raised serious questions about what truly happened.

Fiji Labour Party leader Mahendra Chaudhry has called for transparency, saying the family of the deceased has a right to know the truth.

A statement issued by Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) Commander Major‑General Ro Jone Kalouniwai attributes Vakarisi’s death to a “sudden and severe medical emergency”, possibly linked to a pre‑existing condition.

According to the statement, Vakarisi experienced a medical crisis during an interview process.

Major‑General Kalouniwai said immediate and exhaustive life‑saving efforts were administered by qualified RFMF medical personnel on site, but these attempts were unsuccessful.

Preliminary medical assessments, he said, suggested a pre‑existing condition may have contributed to the death.

However, a medical death certificate now circulating widely on social media presents a significantly different conclusion.

The document reportedly states that Vakarisi died from “severe traumatic head and chest injuries caused by blunt force”.

The contradiction between the two accounts has intensified public scrutiny. While the RFMF maintains the death resulted from a medical emergency, the medical certificate points to the possibility of a violent beating.

For Mr Vakarisi’s family, the issue is deeply personal. There are increasing calls for transparency, with many insisting that any investigation must first establish the true cause of death. Only then, they argue, can justice be served for his wife and children.

Mr Chaudhry said any investigation must establish the real cause of death before justice could be achieved.

“We cannot remain silent in the face of such serious and troubling contradictions,” he said.

The case has also reignited broader concerns about deaths in custody in Fiji, including a recent incident in Nadi that drew widespread public concern.

The RFMF has confirmed the matter has been referred to the Coroner’s Office in accordance with the Inquests Act, with an independent and formal inquiry expected.