EIGHT army officers who are suspects in the death in custody of 18-year-old Sakiusa Rabaka were pulled off a flight bound for Iraq on Saturday night following swift police action.
Confirming this last night, divisional crime officer West Waisea Kadawa said summons for the army officers leaving for UN peacekeeping duties in Iraq were served on the officer-in-charge of the military base at Namaka on Saturday.
He said the summons was served shortly after the contingent of 200-plus soldiers left Suva for Nadi following a parade at Nabua.
"We had to move quickly after late confirmation of the time of departure of their flight," Mr Kadawa said.
The army officers and a police officer, Patrick Nayacalagilagi, are expected to appear in the Nadi court next month, he said.
The names of the military suspects will be made known today.
He said the officers did not try to leave the country although police officers in civilian were at the airport at the time to monitor the situation.
"I suspect the army officers at the airport may have put up a fight against those that were leaving.
"But they (the suspects) could not have gone through airport immigration," Mr Kadawa said.
The army officers' names were placed on the immigration watchlist on Saturday following a court order issued on Saturday, he said.
He said the list was issued to Director of Immigration Viliame Naupoto.
Mr Naupoto had maintained since Saturday that the names were not on the list because there had been nothing from police on the matter.
He said it was most likely the suspects were stopped by the army.
Mr Kadawa said the suspects were not in custody and were expected to appear in court on November 23.
United Nations resident representative Richard Dictus said the United Nations head office in New York had held consultations with the Fiji interim Government over the matter after The Fiji Times published an article on the possibility of army officers who are suspects in the death in custody of two civilians leaving for a tour of duty in Iraq.
Director of Public Prosecutions Josaia Naigulevu could not be reached for comment although his office was expected to announce last Friday whether the officers would be charged.
Military spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Mosese Tikoitoga said he was unaware of the matter and referred all queries to Lieutenant-Colonel Sitiveni Qiliho.
Lt-Col Qiliho referred queries back to Lt-Col Tikoitoga.
Commanding Officer 2FIR Colonel Ratu Tevita Uluilakeba said he was unaware as he had just returned from Labasa.