Fiji's Minister for Justice Siromi Turaga, Minister of Justice, left, and Correction Service acting commissioner Sevuloni Naucukidi. 31 March 2025 Photo: Fiji Corrections Service
A viral video of Fiji's prison head throwing punches in a bar brawl has prompted the Justice Minister Siromi Turaga to remind civil servants about the need for decorum.
Turaga made the comment after Sevuloni Naucukidi, the acting commissioner of the Fiji Corrections Service (FCS), was filmed hitting a man in what is believed to be O'Reilly's Bar in the capital, Suva.
The incident erupted just weeks before Naucukidi was appointed to the role after his predecessor was stood down following allegations of misbehaviour.
"This serves as a reminder to all public office holders and civil servants that a certain level of decorum is expected at all times, particularly when in uniform, whether that be Bula Friday wear or your official work attire," Turaga said in a statement on Monday.
"While social interaction is part of our way of life, I urge everyone to remain mindful of their conduct and to uphold discipline at all times."
He said officers were expected to behave responsibly both during and after official work hours.
Asked if he would sack Naucukidi, the Justice Minister told RNZ Pacific: "That is for the Constitution Officers Commission (COC) to decide after they are fully briefed on the case. I am not a member of the Commission and it is too premature to comment at this stage."
Turaga said he was awaiting a full report from the concerned parties and would provide an update to the COC and its chair, Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka.
While the FCS falls under the Justice Minister's portfolio, the appointment of the Commissioner of Corrections was the COC'S responsibility, he said.
The 30-second clip of the incident, shared online by The Fiji Times on Monday, and has been viewed almost a million times, with more than 1100 reactions and over 2000 shares.
Sevuloni Naucukidi, centre, can be seen throwing punches as bar staff try to contain him. Photo: Screengrab / The Fiji Times
Naucukidi was appointed to act as the Fiji prison chief at the end of March this year, after the FCS commissioner Dr Jalesi Nakarawa was stood down by COC following allegations of misbehaviour.
Turaga said preliminary investigations indicated the footage dated back to early March, but the exact date is yet to be determined.
Clarification is being sought from the relevant parties in a bid to pinpoint this, he said.
Meanwhile, debate has erupted after the Online Safety Commission stressed on its Facebook site that it was a criminal offence to circulate harmful content.
The commission's post said:
"We are currently working closely with the Fiji Police Force to assess the situation. Any individual or corporate entity found to be unlawfully circulating this video may be subject to legal consequences."
"We strongly urge the public and media to refrain from sharing or amplifying the video while investigations are ongoing. Respect for privacy, due process, and the rule of law must guide our actions."
A prominent lawyer and National Federation Party stalwart, Richard Naidu, hit back on Facebook, saying the Commission had got it wrong.
"Your warning to the media of "consequences" for circulating the now infamous video of a senior corrections officer in a nightclub brawl is unwarranted and ill-judged. You claim to respect public interest journalism and freedom of expression, but your statement is exactly the opposite of what you say," he wrote in a post.
"It is clear that for there to be an offence under section 24 of the Online Safety Act there must be intent to harm an individual. Individuals or media organisations taking steps to hold a senior public official to account for his actions in a public place do not have that intent.
"In simple terms, section 24 exists to protect people vulnerable to publication by others of private photos, communications or other personal matter which are of no legitimate interest to anyone else. Section 24 does not exist to protect an accountable public figure from embarrassment.
"You say that respect for rule of law must guide our actions. So please re-think your statement with due respect to citizens' freedom both to impart and to receive information under s.17 of the Constitution."
