Pacific

Fiji police to reopen alleged brutality cases

12:35 pm on 26 August 2014

The Fiji Police Force is reported to be looking at reopening closed cases of alleged police brutality dating back six years.

Fiji Village reports the Police Commissioner has given assurances the reports will be investigated.

The commissioner, Ben Groenewald, says he does not have the exact number of cases to be looked at and they will only reopen cases if there is concrete evidence.

The website reports the Police Commissioner has spoken to police in all divisions and has warned them not to take the law into their own hands.

The police have been blamed for last week's death of Vilikesa Soko who is alleged to have been a victim of a police beating.

A copy of Mr Soko's medical report which has been published by the website Fijileaks shows multiple traumatic injuries contributed to his death.

Last year, the police in Fiji promised a thorough investigation into a video showing the torture of escaped prisoners, allegedly by security forces.