Naboro prison.

An investigation is underway by relevant authorities into the unfortunate death of an inmate at the Naboro Maximum Corrections Centre on Sunday evening.

The Ministry of Justice, in a statement, says the Fiji Corrections Service has formally notified it of the incident.

It says according to the preliminary report received from the FCS, the incident occurred within the secure facility, where the inmate was accommodated in a single cell at the time.

The matter was promptly reported to the relevant authorities.

The Fiji Police Force, including its Forensics Unit, along with the Resident Magistrate and a medical officer, attended the scene and commenced the necessary investigative processes.

The Ministry says that the FCS has confirmed that a full internal board of inquiry has been convened to thoroughly investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident. Simultaneously, the Fiji Police will conduct its independent investigation.

Funeral arrangements are being coordinated by the appropriate authorities in consultation with the family.

The Ministry acknowledges the gravity of this matter and supports the ongoing investigations to ensure accountability and transparency.

Once the inquiries are concluded, a full report will be submitted to the Ministry for review and any further necessary action.

The Ministry stresses that suicide is complex, and most of the time, there isn’t one event or factor that leads someone to take their own life. It is usually a combination of lots of different factors interacting with each other to increase risk.

It says a combination of individual, community, and societal factors contributes to the risk of suicide. The Ministry has committed to working with the FCS to provide the necessary support.

The Ministry of Justice reaffirms its commitment to access to justice, integrity, and fairness with compassion at all times.

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