The High Court in Suva has granted the Fiji Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission permission to evaluate the living conditions of murder accused Epeli Laqeni at the remand center. Justice Usaia Ratuvili approved two motions presented by Laqeni’s defense team, allowing the commission to conduct interviews with Laqeni, who is currently wheelchair-bound.
Additionally, the court has mandated that Laqeni undergo a medical examination, after which a comprehensive medical report will be submitted to the court for review. Laqeni faces a charge of murder linked to an incident that reportedly occurred between September 3 and 5 of last year in Nakasi, Nausori.
During the proceedings, prosecutor Naazish Ali stated that the police have yet to start extracting data from the mobile phones of both the victim and the accused. In a related request, defense attorney Timoci Varinava sought access to the victim’s call records from September 2025 to aid in their case.
Currently, Laqeni remains in custody, with the next hearing scheduled for January 20. This case highlights the complexities of legal proceedings and the ongoing efforts to ensure a fair assessment of the circumstances surrounding both the accused and the victim. The involvement of the Human Rights Commission underscores a commitment to uphold human dignity within the judicial process.