Police Commissioner, Ben Groenewald states that the Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre has no statutory obligation to release information that has been revealed to her by clients who seek the Centre’s assistance due to the professional privilege accorded to them in their line of work as counsellors.
Groenewald said he was made aware of the comments made by the Coordinator of the Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre, Shamima Ali regarding reports of young girls and members of the gay community being ridiculed and bullied by those circulating their photos.
He said Police will only act upon receipt of a complaint of which an investigation will be conducted.
Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre Co-ordinator, Shamima Ali confirmed that they have received reports of girls and boys as young as 12 to 16 years being blackmailed for sex or money after the photos of these people caught in compromising positions were posted online.
Ali said she cannot reveal the actual number of reports.
However she said it has been increasing from last year.
When questioned on whether the centre has reported these cases to Police, Ali said that this is up to the victims and they are just providing counselling sessions.
Ali then said these cases should be reported.
