Police are now focusing on how the five prisoners managed to escape from Naboro last Monday and who transported them out of there.

Assistant Police Commissioner, Rusiate Tudravu said a lot will be revealed on how things happened after investigations are completed as there are already revelations that many simcards and mobile phones have been seized from many prisons.

Tudravu also said the four prisoners remain in hospital while the fifth prisoner, Isoa Waqa is in police custody.

He said their main priority right now is to conduct investigations and produce people in court.  

He has also revealed to Fijivillage that some of the officers involved in the recapture of the four prisoners off the island of Uduya Point last Friday were injured due to resistance by the escapees and the rugged terrain of the island.

However ACP Tudravu said his priority is not to highlight that the officers got injured as that is part of their job and they do face some of these challenges.

He said the injured officers have been told to get their medical reports and further investigations will be conducted soon.  

Tudravu said their next phase is to assess how the arrest was conducted and he stresses that no one is above the law and procedures have to be followed by all the members of the force.

He said reasonable force had to be used during the arrest and investigations on claims of excessive force will be conducted.
 
Meanwhile the government confirmed that a series of internal meetings are underway in relation to the recapture of the prisoners who escaped from Naboro Medium facility last Monday.

Permanent Secretary for Information, Sharon Smith-Johns said the government does not condone the excessive force used in the apprehension of the prisoners.

Smith-Johns said such incidents are unfortunate and the government makes it clear that behaviour of this nature is unacceptable and they are investigating the circumstances.

She said further details on the investigations will be revealed later.
 
Meanwhile, the Fiji Corrections Service has also tightened security in light of the breakout.

It has been decided that to curb increased trafficking of contrabands into prisons, all visitors to inmates will be subject to a thorough search by officers.

Each inmate will be allowed a maximum of three visitors only which should include nuclear family members, during their entire period of incarceration.

The Corrections department said this decision has been made to address the operational loopholes.

Spokesperson Ana Tamani said fruit brought in by the visitors will be eaten within the visiting area only and are not to be taken into the cells.

She also said that visitors will only be allowed to bring in fruit.

It was earlier highlighted that many contrabands including phone simcards, mobile phones and tobacco were found in Suva, Nasinu and Naboro prison facilities a few days ago.

Lt. Col Vasu said due to the increasing inmate population against their limited manpower, it is difficult for Correction officers to effectively police the contrabands being passed on to inmates by visitors.
 
Meanwhile, seven people appeared in the Suva Magistrates Court this afternoon charged with harboring prison escapees.

Defence counsel for 23 year old Taniela Yauyau, 24 year old Laisa Elder, 25 year old Livai Nabulu, 24 year old Unaisi Ciri, 19 year old Epeli Qaqa, 27 year old Merewalesi Sikadimuri and a juvenile applied for bail when they appeared.

Defence lawyer for Sikadimuri, Vasemaca Tamanisau said her client needs to look after her one year old child as her husband is a fisherman and is out at sea most of the time.

Elder, Ciri and Sikadimuri are first offenders and do not have a record to breach bail.

State counsel, Josaia Niudamu asked the court if all the seven can be further remanded because police are still conducting investigations in relation to the prison breakout last week.

Bail has been refused and they have been remanded in custody.

The case will be called again on the 9th of next month.

Story by: Vijay Narayan and Tokasa Rainima