Inmate escapes
A 25-YEAR-old inmate is on the run after he escaped from the custody of correction officers at the courthouse in Valelevu on Monday. Authorities are now requesting for public assistance on the whereabouts of Aliki Kaikoso, a resident of Veiresi settlement in Nadera. Fiji Corrections Service spokeswoman Ana Tamani said Kaikoso was serving an 18-month sentence for burglary and theft and was to be released in November this year. "The Fiji Corrections Service reminds members of the public that it is a criminal offence to harbour an escapee," Ms Tamani said.
Ministerial study
MINISTER for Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation Ratu Inoke Kubuabola is among 11 of his Pacific Island States counterparts in Singapore to participate in the Singapore-Pacific ministerial study this month. The ministers later paid a joint call on Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong during which they discussed Singapore's relations with the Pacific Islands States and developments in the South Pacific region. Meanwhile, a government statement issued yesterday said Fiji and Singapore were continuing discussions on areas of co-operation, including training and climate change.
$11.6m project
WORK on the Fiji Corrections Service's new remand facility is progressing well despite hiccups with the weather. Corrections spokeswoman Ana Tamani said in a statement the $11.6 million project was the main focus for this year in terms of capital projects for the department. Upon completion in December, Mrs Tamani said the new facility was expected to house 200 remand inmates at any one time and also an immigration detention centre. She said other upcoming capital projects in the pipeline for the department included a remand centre for the Natabua Corrections Centre in Lautoka and the Labasa Corrections Centre.
Arrest order
THE Lautoka Magistrates Court has ordered for the arrest of Lautoka lawyer Iqbal Khan after he failed to appear as a Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) witness yesterday. A FICAC media statement said Mr Khan allegedly failed to obey the summons issued by the court in a case against Janardan Naidu, who is an employee of Iqbal Khan & Associates. Mr Naidu is charged for forgery related offences.