Fiji Police Probe Death of Suspect in Military Custody

The Fiji Police Force has launched a murder investigation following the death of Jone Vakarisi, a well-known drug suspect, who died while in military custody at the Queen Elizabeth Barracks in Nabua, near Suva.

Police spokesperson Ana Naisoro confirmed the investigation to RNZ Pacific, stating that investigators are gathering intelligence to establish the facts and circumstances surrounding Vakarisi’s death. She added that the heads of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) and the police have reaffirmed their commitment to a thorough inquiry and urged the public to allow the process to run its course.

Vakarisi was found with 15.2 grams of marijuana in January 2023 and sentenced to three months in jail, suspended for two years, by the Suva Magistrates Court. The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) had appealed his suspended sentence, with the hearing scheduled for Monday before his death.

Chief Justice Salesi Temo granted the ODPP’s application to close criminal proceedings against Vakarisi after reviewing medical evidence, and the court requested a copy of the death certificate, which was subsequently released by the police’s director of criminal investigations.

The RFMF initially stated that Vakarisi’s death was due to “a sudden and severe emergency” during questioning at the barracks. However, conflicting reports emerged over the weekend regarding the cause of death, prompting the murder investigation.

News of Vakarisi’s death broke on Friday, while senior military and police officials were gathered on Bau Island to farewell the late President and Speaker of the House, Ratu Epeli Nailatikau.