Fiji Corrections Officer Charged Over Assault on Australian Prisoner at Lautoka Remand Centre

Asaeli Sorovaki appeared in court on Monday facing assault charges and was granted bail, with his case adjourned to September 7th, according to Fiji Village. The other six officers have yet to appear in court. The Corrections Service suspended all seven officers last week after a video showing a brutal assault on a prisoner by officers in Lautoka went viral on Fijian social media.

The incident occurred on June 14th, according to the timestamp in the footage. It has also been revealed that the remand prisoner allegedly beaten by the officers is an Australian citizen. In a statement on its Facebook page, Corrections said the prisoner had been medically examined and remained stable in custody. Meanwhile, the six officers who remain suspended allegedly for breaches relating to the standard operating procedures and lawful instructions in the course of their duties and which are linked to the reported incident will await internal disciplinary proceedings to be heard by the designated Tribunal, Corrections said.