Legal Aid Commission Acting Director, Shahin Ali
Many Fijians are not aware of the first hour policy that the Legal Aid Commission offers, however, it’s the best way for a suspect to be assisted when seeking legal advice.
Legal Aid Commission Acting Director, Shahin Ali says the Policy is that a person that’s been arrested is briefed on his or her rights by a Legal Aid lawyer at no cost within the first hour of arrest.
Ali says during this first hour, the arresting officer is required to call the Legal Aid Commission where a lawyer on-duty will attend to the matter.
“If they are in trouble with the law, if they are being arrested or detained or if you know a friend or family member who has been arrested or detained you can certainly call the Legal Aid Commission and each police station should have a poster of legal aid commission which has the first hour procedure details and our number advertised on those posters.”
The procedure is stipulated under Section 13 of the Constitution.