The Fiji police commissioner has confirmed several officers are being investigated for allegedly assaulting and mistreating members of the public.
Sitiveni Qiliho, on Wednesday, said a farmer claimed he was assaulted by police officers during his arrest.
Mr Qiliho says the man was arrested over the alleged theft of livestock which were found slaughtered on 27 March.
The commissioner said if claims by the farmer are proven, officers would face the full brunt of the law.
He said the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) was looking into the alleged incident.
.. Photo: RNZ Pacific/ Koroi Hawkins
Earlier, nine police officers were suspended over a separate matter involving a man allegedly being thrown off a bridge at Naqia Village in Tailevu which left him hospitalised.
On Wednesday, the Fiji's Human Rights and Ant-Discrimination Commission said the police officers had "used excessive force" on the man.
This was revealed in the findings of an investigation by the commission and director Ashwin Raj said the report was based on the evidence available to them including medical records, victim and witness statements.
Mr Raj said the commission found that the 32-year-old man from Naqia was subjected to "cruel, inhumane, degrading or disproportionately severe treatment" by police during his arrest.
Ashwin Raj, chair of Fiji's media authority MIDA Photo: RNZI/Republika
He said such acts of violence were contrary to Fiji's human rights obligations under international law.
He said the commissions findings had been sent to police.
On Tuesday, police said the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions had been handed the investigation file.
Police chief of intelligence and investigations, Assistant Commissioner Biu Matavou said the file was sent to the Public Prosecutor last week.
MP investigated
Pio Tikoduadua Photo: CC BY-SA 4.0
Meanwhile, Opposition MP Pio Tikoduadua continues to be investigated over a video he posted on Facebook in which he detailed the assault.
The National Federation Party parliamentarian was arrested on 20 April apparently over the video.
It is still not clear what Mr Tikoduadua is being investigated for and what charges he may face.
The alleged incident had received wide publicity and police said they were investigating.
On 23 April, police said it had completed its investigation into Mr Tikoduadua and the case file was submitted to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions for independent legal advice.
Trio plead not guilty
On 29 April, three suspended police officers, accused of assaulting a man last year, pleaded not guilty in the Suva High Court.
One of the accused faced additional charges of acts with the intent to cause grievous harm, conspiracy to defeat justice and interference with witnesses.
The other two also faced charges of aiding and abetting acts intended to cause grievous harm.
Their case has been adjourned to 1 June.
Human rights protected in Fiji: Commission
The Fiji Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission said every person had the "right to freedom from torture of any kind, whether physical, mental or emotional and from cruel, inhuman, degrading or dis-proportionally severe treatment or punishment.
"International human rights instruments prescribe standards and norms for law enforcement agencies such as the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights," director Ashwin Raj said.
