Photo: JEREMIE LUSSEAU
Fiji police say investigators will continue to pursue allegations related to the death of a gender-diverse person - but the cited cause of death is complications arising from a medical condition.
The Coalition of Human Rights is calling for justice, following what it called the "reported murder" of Esther, also known as Setariki Ravato, a 19-year-old gender-diverse person from Ba and Lautoka.
The Coalition said the victim was allegedly "tortured and murdered... by a group of men and women after being taken from outside her home, as witnessed by an associate".
It said its team and the LGBTQI+ community in Fiji are devastated.
In a statement, Fiji Police said they can confirm that a report was lodged on 23 March, after the victim was admitted at the Lautoka Hospital, after being allegedly assaulted by some youths in Ba, a few weeks prior to admission.
"Investigators had gathered information from medical officials at the Lautoka Hospital where it was revealed that the victim was a known patient, who had previously received treatment for a specific medical ailment," the statement said.
"Medical officials had also issued the victim's death certificate, where the cause of death had been cited as complications arising from the medical condition."
But police said the investigation is continuing.
"Investigators, however, will continue to pursue the allegations of the alleged assault, and gather further statements from medical authorities, to rule out the link between the claims of assault to the victim's death."