Updated: 6:22am – Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama has confirmed to Fijivillage that he was only made aware of the incident regarding the driver from the Prime Minister’s Office at about 10 o’clock yesterday morning and he called the driver immediately to present himself to the Police.
Bainimarama says the driver had come to the gates of his official residence after 3am yesterday and the guard at the gate had not allowed him in.
However, when the man continued to insist that he needed to drive his private car in, the guard allowed him in.
The police officers had then come to the gate at about 3.30am.
The man who was driving a grey Toyota Prius registration IV281 at about 3 o’clock yesterday allegedly refused to take a breathalyzer test, assaulted two police officers and then fled the scene.
Fijivillage had received information from reliable sources and members of the public who witnessed the incidents early morning yesterday.
It is alleged that the man who was driving the private car, was smelling of alcohol and refused to go through the breathalyzer test at McGregor Road at 3 yesterday morning.
He allegedly claimed that he was a driver at the Prime Minister’s Office.
People who witnessed the incident say that he continued to refuse to undergo the test and allegedly punched one of the officers.
He then allegedly drove off while the second officer had put a hand in the car to take the key out.
The second police officer was dragged by the car for about 10 metres.
The officers and some members of the public then gave chase and the man allegedly drove into the Prime Minister’s residence at Ratu Sukuna Road.
It is alleged that the police officers tried to arrest the man however he had already driven into the premises.
The two police officers have lodged an official complaint at Totogo Police Station.
When asked on the issue, Police Commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho said that an investigation is in progress.
We have asked whether the driver of the Toyota Prius IV281 is still on the run.
No further comments have been made by Police at this stage.
When contacted by the news, Permanent Secretary at the Prime Minister’s Office Yogesh Karan said that he has been alerted about the incident and they will let Police do their work.
-Fiji Village
