Fiji's Human Rights Commission is investigating the death of a man in police custody.
Police say the man was arrested after he allegedly assaulted a mechanic at Samabula in Suva last weekend.
Ashwin Raj. Photo: Supplied
Police also say they did not get the victim's details because he was 'heavily intoxicated' and he was locked in a cell.
Later that evening, police officers found the man motionless and he was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.
A police internal affairs inquiry is looking into the conduct of the police officers.
A post-mortem examination will be conducted to determine the cause of death, police said.
.. Photo: Facebook/Fiji Police
Fiji's Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commissioner Ashwin Raj has also welcomed an internal police investigation into the matter.
Raj said it was important there's "transparency and accountability without impunity."
"The commission is waiting for the post-mortem (examination) report as the post-mortem (examination) is expected to be conducted sometime today. We are also trying to contact the family of the deceased," Raj said.
Figures from Fiji's Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (ODPP) show that 400 charges of serious violence were laid against police officers between May 2015 and April 2020.
Sixteen charges of rape were laid against police in that five-year period, two charges of murder and nine of manslaughter.
More than 110 charges of assault were brought against police officers. Other charges include perjury, abduction, conspiracy, and aiding prisoners to escape.
