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An Australian inmate is receiving consular support after he was allegedly punched and dragged across the ground at a Fijian prison. A corrections officer has been charged with assault over the incident.
Security footage circulating on local media shows the Australian prisoner dragged by his pants through the sleeping quarters at the Lautoka Remand Centre in west Fiji, before he is struck and thrown to the ground. The corrections officer then pulls the man to his feet and punches him as two other inmates watch from a nearby bunk bed.
The footage is timestamped June 14, 2026, but triggered an investigation only after it was circulated more recently by Fijian news outlets and social media.
Asaeli Sorovaki, a corrections officer at the prison, was charged with assault on Monday after an investigation led by the Fiji Corrections Service (FCS). He was granted bail on a $F1000 ($A637) non-cash bond after appearing at the Lautoka Magistrates Court hours after he was charged.
The circumstances leading to the incident are unclear, as is what was said by the officer in the video.
Three officers who hold senior positions in the Western Division of the FCS have been suspended as authorities investigate the incident. The officers’ future employment status will be determined by the findings of an internal disciplinary tribunal.
The FCS said the inmate wasn’t badly injured in the incident. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is providing assistance to the Australian.
Sorovaki indicated his willingness to reconcile with the inmate during the court hearing, according to the Fiji Sun. The Sun also reported the alleged victim will be required in court for a formal reconciliation, slated for September 7.
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Daniel Lo Surdo is a breaking news reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald. He previously helmed the national news live blog for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.Connect via email.From our partners
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