Fiji detectives investigating joint task force raid after death

Detectives in Fiji are investigating claims that members of the joint police and military taskforce were involved in raiding the central division home of a man who has since died.

Police have confirmed that they are probing the death of a man in his 30s who is a Kinoya resident, Sakiasi Ose.

This is the second recent death in Suva following alleged home raids carried out by both the police and military.

Jone Vakarisi - described by local media as a drug lord involved in criminal networks - died in military custody on 17 April.

Vakarisi was asked if he was planning a coup, before the military arrested him at home and took him to the Queen Elizabeth Barracks for questioning.

Condition deteriorated

Doctors referred the latest case to the police after Ose died at the Valelevu Health Centre in Suva.

"The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) is heading the inquiry, and will look into the circumstances surrounding his death," said police spokesperson Wame Bautolo.

"A post mortem has also been directed to confirm the cause of death. Initial information gathered from medical officials is that he (Ose) presented himself at the health centre on 3 June and was advised that he would need further medical tests."

However Bautolo said that Ose signed a discharge slip and returned home that night.

Ose returned to the centre the following night, accompanied by his family, as his condition had deteriorated, Bautolo said.

"Attempts made by health officials to treat his condition were futile. The information gathered at these initial stages of inquiries are subject to further investigation."

The investigation is also looking into claims that members of the joint task force were involved in a raid on Ose's home.

Still no arrests in Vakarisi case

Jone Vakarisi was heard screaming and begging for his life before he was "brutalised to death", according to his sister, Melehola Tagaga.

His death certificate, dated 18 April, listed aspiration of gastric contents, severe traumatic head injuries and blunt force trauma to both the head and chest as the causes of his death.

The Republic of Fiji Military (RFMF) commander Ro Jone Kalouniwai initially attributed the victim's death to a "sudden and severe medical emergency" and "the presence of a pre-existing condition".

But he later issued a second statement to correct the record, saying "the earlier description did not fully reflect the medical findings now available".

The police classified Vakarisi's death as murder following a high-level meeting in Suva involving the Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka and security and military chiefs.

However, police are yet to make an arrest following the 37-year-olds death.

The joint police and military taskforce was set up to combat what authorities described as a national drug crisis.