Fiji currently lacks a structured system to monitor citizens who are deported from abroad after completing sentences for serious crimes, including sexual offences. Immigration Minister Viliame Naupoto has highlighted this issue, acknowledging that the country primarily depends on family networks and general awareness among police regarding the return of high-risk individuals.
Naupoto explained that upon deportation, individuals are typically greeted by relatives, which raises concerns about the adequacy of monitoring. He expressed uncertainty about the follow-up actions taken by the police once these deportees return to Fiji.
This matter gained prominence in October 2022 when Australian media reported a distressing case involving a 39-year-old Fijian who faced charges for raping a four-year-old girl in his care while at a childcare center overseas. Naupoto noted that there were four deportees from Australia in that incident, indicating a pressing need for better preparation and management of incoming high-risk individuals, especially in cases of mass deportations.
While Naupoto stated that Fijian authorities are usually able to manage deportees because they arrive in small numbers, he emphasized the absence of any legal framework for the registration or monitoring of returning sex offenders. He believes that implementing a formal register could provide a means for tracking these individuals, yet no system currently exists.
This revelation underscores the significant challenge faced by Fijian authorities in ensuring public safety and addressing the potential risks associated with deported individuals who may have a history of serious crimes. Creating a robust system for monitoring such offenders would likely enhance community safety and instill greater confidence in the justice system’s ability to manage high-risk cases.