The Fiji Human Rights and Anti Discriminatory Commission has found accused persons rights were violated by police last year.
The Commission has been investigating several cases of alleged human rights abuse by the police and corrections service.
The Fiji Human Rights and Anti Discriminatory Commission visited various Police Stations and Correctional Facilities last year.
It found cases of accused person’s constitutional rights have been violated on certain occasions.
“We have noticed human rights violations where some accused are kept in police custody without being produced in court within 48 hours, that is according to the constitution. some of the cases we have found that rule was not complied with,” said FHRADC chairman, Justice Mohammed Ajmeer.
Close to 5 complaints of alleged human rights abuse against the Police and the Corrections Service have also been lodged with the Commission last year.
“We are investigating few complaints. we have also dealt with few complaints. We have rectified the situation. What is important here is the reconciliation. If there are any human rights violation cases, we negotiate with the relevant authorities and we try to reconcile,” Justice Ajmeer added.
Some of those cases are now before the court.
“I think assault is really violating the basic human rights. They (police or corrections officers) have no right to assault and we will be taking appropriate actions,” he stated.
The Commission received more than 100 cases of alleged human rights last year.