Bainimarama to be handcuffed when attending court

Source: The Fiji Times
Author: Shayal Devi

The Fiji Corrections Service (FCS) says former prime minister Voreqe Bainimarama will now be handcuffed during court appearances after it was determined he had signed off on the dismissal of 17 FijiFirst MPs.

A statement from the service said their investigation confirmed Bainimarama signed documents for the FijiFirst party parliamentarians during a court session, which constituted a breach of established protocols.

FCS commissioner Dr Jalesi Nakarawa said this indicated a failure to adhere to the procedural guidelines set forth for the handling of detainees during judicial proceedings.

In addition, disciplinary action would now be initiated against the officers who escorted Bainimarama during his court appearance.

Mr Nakarawa said to prevent any future occurrences, strict measures were mandated, and Bainimarama being cuffed during court appearances was intended to ensure compliance with security protocols.

"The actions of our officers in this instance fell short of our expectations and our professional standard," he said.

"We will take appropriate disciplinary steps to rectify this and prevent future breaches."

He said the decision to handcuff Bainimarama during court appearances was a necessary step to ensure compliance and to uphold the integrity of FCS' operations.