Fiji Police says the individual accused of attempting to kidnap three children in Lautoka last week has refuted the allegations.
He told police that the children followed him, and he was in the process of escorting them back to Churchill Park when he was met with angry parents who allegedly assaulted him.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Operations, Livai Driu, said that a report regarding the supposed incident was filed at the Lautoka Police Station on the evening of August 9 by a parent whose child, along with two classmates, was said to be the victim of the alleged incident.
During questioning, the suspect, a 16-year-old member of an overseas volunteer group involved in community work in the Lautoka area, said that on the day of the incident, they were carrying out a clean-up campaign stretching from Shirley Park to Punjas Children’s Park. The 16-year-old said he then went to Churchill Park to watch rugby, after which he proceeded to collect litter in the area. Once done, he returned to the children’s park to rejoin his peers when the children followed him, and after their group discussion, he walked them back to Churchill Park where the alleged confrontation occurred.
The 16-year-old opted not to file a report regarding the assault.
