27 Professional misconduct (Police) The Commission received fifteen complaints from individuals against the conduct of the Fiji Police Force. The nature of complaints received by the Commission included allegations of police inaction in dealing with complaints including laying false charges, delay by the Police in initiating investigations, complaints of bias in the course of investigations, police inaction with arresting suspects in breach of the Domestic Violence Restraining Order and allegations of harassment by police. Section 11 (2) – Right to Security and Freedom from violence (Corrections Brutality) The Commission received 21 complaints from inmates at various correction facilities claiming brutality by correction officers. The nature of brutality included physical assaults. Consistent with the requirements set out under section 32 of the Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission Act, the Commission has brought these allegations to the attention of the Commissioner of Corrections and requested for independent investigations while the Commission conducted its own independent investigations to ascertain the veracity of these claims. The Commission is required by the Fiji Corrections Service to make a written request for visitation to respective Corrections facilities. Professional misconduct (Corrections) The Commission received a complaint of professional misconduct against Fiji Corrections Service in a matter where an inmate alleged that his ring was taken from him by force. The inmate was also told to hold a mobile phone while the Corrections Officers took photo of him so that he could be implicated for Section 12 – Freedom from unreasonable search and seizure The Commission received seven complaints in breach of section 12 of the Fijian Constitution. In most cases, it was alleged that the complainants houses were raided without a search warrant. In other matters, it was alleged that inmates were searched by Corrections officers while under the influence of liquor during working hours. Section 13 – Rights of Arrested and Detained Persons The Commission received fourty complaints in breach of section 13 of the Fijian Constitution. In most cases, the complainants raised concern over the deplorable condition of cell blocks. Other matters included the relatives of arrested and detained persons being denied visitation rights, arrested persons deprived of their right to a legal counsel, failure of police officers in informing arrested persons of their constitutional rights under detention, non-provisioning of an interpreter during caution interview of a Bulgarian national, cell overcrowding and non-provisioning of medical attention by police. Section 16 – Executive and Administrative Justice The Commission received a complaint in breach of an individual’s rights guaranteed under section 16 of the Fijian Constitution. The victim’s father alleged that his daughter was forced to consume weed killer – commonly known as paraquat. The victim’s father further alleged that the DPP counsel handling this matter informed him that there was insufficient evidence to make a case. Section 20 – Employment Relations The Commission received twenty one complaints in relation to the breach of section 20 of the Fijian Constitution. Allegations included termination from employment, forced redundancies, forced resignations, breach of employment contract, non-renewal of employment contract and workplace bullying. ANNUAL REPORT 2018 The Commission received seventeen complaints in breach of section 11(2) of the Fijian Constitution. Allegations included physical assault of suspects during arrest and while in custody. being in possession of contraband. FIJI HUMAN RIGHTS & ANTI-DISCRIMINATION COMMISSION Section 11 (2) – Right to Security and Freedom from violence (Police Brutality)

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