Robbery Victims Live In Fear

What was supposed to be a normal day to earn an income for his family, turned out to be a traumatising morning for taxi driver, Rakesh Chand.

Mr Chand, 38, recalls the ordeal of Friday March 11, when he was robbed by four people at Rewa Street, Suva around 11am.

“The one sitting beside me on the front seat placed a knife on my hips and told me to turn inside a road, I had to do it because I had no choice,” Mr Chand said.

He claimed that one of the culprits who did not wear a mask had a fair complexion, while the other culprit had tattoos on his hands and legs and one of them had a tattoo on his face which looked like a cross.

“They took around $400 including my phone, the taxi metre and the keys with them.”

He said that was not the end of it.

“The same thief who was fair in complexion came to my house and attempted to open the door of my car on Monday (March 14).”

Breadwinner

Mr Chand is the sole breadwinner in his family of seven.

He said due to injuries to his head he was not able to drive until he fully recovered.

Mr Chand had been a taxi driver for the last 15 years and says this was the first time he had been robbed.

But he was pleased with how the Police managed his case.

Another Victim

Simon Prasad, 58, of Nepani in Nasinu was a victim of an early morning break-in.

The Director of Dorosan Electronics said last month on a Sunday (13/02) at around 3am, he was alone at home when he heard some noise.

He said he walked to the back of his house and saw that three louver blades were removed using a bolt cutter. Cameras were twisted and lights around the house were switched off.

“They were ready to enter the house, but I switched on the lights and saw them walk away.”

He said one of them had a tattoo on his right leg.

“It was just a matter of five minutes, if I would have delayed then I might not be speaking to you right now.”

“It has been 25 years since I have been living here but this has never happened before.

“Now I am living in fear, I had to hire a security guard whom I pay $40 per night for, which is an unnecessary cost.”

Mr Prasad claimed that the Police did not do their work properly as he had lodged a report to Police but they hardly attended to his complaint.

Police Response

In response to Mr Prasad’s comment, police spokesperson Ana Naisoro said the Divisional Police Commander concerned had been directed to provide feedback on all issues raised by the business community with regards to alleged inaction and poor service delivery by Police officers.

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