Police and state prosecutors now have the powers to bring a number of people to justice after a new set of prostitution offences came into effect under the Crimes Decree yesterday.
Former High Court Judge Nazhat Shameem said people who live of the earnings of prostitution and organise prostitution rackets in the country can now be charged.
Shameem said it is also a major step forward with the clients also facing charges as the Penal Code was only targetting the prostitutes.
Nazhat Shameem said the issue of sexual exploitation is also clearly addressed in the Crimes Decree.
Under the Crimes Decree, a person commits an offence if he or she knowingly lives wholly or in part on the earnings of prostitution.
It is also a crime if a person solicits or offers for immoral purposes in any public place.
The maximum sentence for these offences is six years imprisonment.
A person also commits an offence if he or she loiters in a public place for the purpose of offering themselves for sex in return for a payment of any nature, seeks the services of a prostitute in a public place, uses the services of a prostitute and makes arrangements with a prostitute in order to use his or her services by any communication whatsoever.
Any police officer may arrest without warrant any person he or she finds in any public place whom he reasonably suspects to be committing an offence under the provisions of the prostitution offences.
A magistrate may also issue a warrant authorising any police officer to enter and search a house and arrest people if it is made to appear to a magistrate by information on oath that a house is being used for purposes of prostitution.
The penalty for anyone caught operating a brothel is five years imprisonment or a ten thousand dollars fine, or both.
Prostitution clients to be charged too
Related Stories
We are committed to holding elections – Siromi Turaga
Questions were raised during Dialogue Fiji’s Constitution review discussion on whether the government can delay the general elections and complete the Constitution review however Acting Attorney General Siromi Turaga
Fijian economy on track to grow for fourth consecutive year in 2025 by 3.4%
The Fijian economy is on track to grow for the fourth consecutive year in 2025 by 3.4 percent, following a 3.5 percent expansion in 2024. The growth forecast is revised up marginally from the 3.2 percent projected
Heavy Rain Alert for Eastern Viti Levu, Southern Bua, Cakaudrove, Taveuni and maritime areas
A heavy rain alert is now in force for the eastern half of Viti Levu (Navua–Suva–Nausori to Serua–Namosi to Tailevu–Naitasiri–Ra areas), southern Bua, Cakaudrove, Taveuni and nearby smaller islands, the Lau an
We need to dismantle criminal enterprises, hitting them where it hurts most - Speaker
Speaker of Parliament, Filimone Jitoko has highlighted during the opening of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions Conference that there is a need for prosecutors in the country to master the digital frontie
Fiji has learned from its past and we know that restricting media engagement or access is not the answer - Tabuya
At all times, the public interest in accessing information and the media’s role in scrutinising government must outweigh any unilateral power to silence or sideline a news outlet. In Fiji, we uphold the principle that
Wailea resident raises concerns about drug issues raised countless times with Police while COMPOL says official complaint must be lodged
Wailea Settlement Community leader, Inoke Utona says he has raised the issue of drug use and dealing in their area countless times with the authorities but there has still been no response from Police. However when