SODELPA General Secretary Pio Tabaiwalu has today expressed concern about the recruitment of 3 police officers into the Fiji Military after they were charged with unlawfully and indecently assaulting Iowane Benedito.
This is in relation to the video brutality case.
Five people are charged in this case.
The suspended police officers are Sanita Laqenasici, Jona Davonu and Semesa Naduka while Filimone Catimaibulu and Pita Matairavula are from the RFMF.
Tabaiwalu has questioned the military's commitment to the rule of law in Fiji by this action.
The SODELPA General Secretary says even the police and military personnel convicted for the assault and unlawful homicides of Sakiusa Rabaka and Nimilote Verebasaga in 2009 spent only a few weeks in prison before being released.
Tabaiwalu says this appears to be a ploy to keep the accused on full pay while facing serious charges.
He further questions whether the positions the three suspended police officers have taken up in the RFMF were advertised and was the appropriate recruitment process followed.
Tabaiwalu also expressed concern that soldier, Pita Matairavula who is charged in relation to the Benedito case was at the RFMF barracks and entry was refused to police officers who sought to arrest him.
Meanwhile the SODELPA General Secretary also expressed concern that the DPP has withdrawn the manslaughter charges in the Vilikesa Soko case for which no explanation has been given to the public, while the rape and assault charges on the late Soko will go to trial in September 2016.
The military has confirmed that the three police officers who were charged with unlawfully and indecently assaulting Benedito in November 2012 have been recruited by the RFMF.
Land Force Commander, Colonel Sitiveni Qiliho says they have recruited the three police officers as they felt that they have been left on their own.
He says they are innocent until proven guilty.
The case will be called again on the 2nd of December in the Nasinu Magistrates Court.
