A couple and their three children – all under the age of 15 years are currently being detained at the Sigatoka police station for the crimes of the parents.
Police had been searching for the family after a complaint was lodged against the couple for having obtained a financial advantage of 20 thousand dollars.
The family, which includes a 14-year-old, 8-year-old and 7-year-old were deported from New Zealand in January this year.
A farmer in Sigatoka was the victim of an alleged scam involving the family.
Fiji Police Force Media Liaison Person Naina Ragigia said 3 members of the family are being investigated as suspects.
“The father is alleged to have committed the offence of obtaining financial advantage whereby he promised take money and arrange for visa for passports for people to go across.The mother and the child the 14 year old girl they are in custody for the offence of alleged theft and it is alleged that they had stolen money amounting to about 20 grand from a family of Barara in Sigatoka.”
A motion was filed at the Sigatoka Court where approval was given for police to keep the family in custody.
A file will also be submitted to the Office of Director of Public Prosecutions for advise on the charges to be laid against them.
She adds “We managed to apprehend the family in Nadi at a well known restaurant and we brought them to the Police Station. We notified Social Welfare of bringing the whole family to the station.They were questioned initially and they denied the allegations made against them and then they were searched.When we searched the 14 year old girl we managed to find total cash of about 20 grand on her.”
Meanwhile concerns have also been raised on the welfare of the 2 young children detained along with their parents.
According to police the family have no fixed address nor relatives here to take the younger children in.
The Ministry of Social Welfare is expecting an official report from their officer in Sigatoka tomorrow.
Ragigia said “Unfortunately the children refused to go with Social Welfare because they wish to stay with their mother. However in this case the mother is one of our suspects.What we have done at the Sigatoka Police Station we’ve kept the family there and we’ve kept them in a separate room,they’ve been able to be attended too by medical authorities and Social Welfare who has come in to check on their state.They’ve been fed, they’ve been looked after,they’ve been cared for, nurtured, given change of clothes,they are receiving their 3 daily meals.”