A second New Zealander is believed to have been detained and beaten in the recent wave of arrests by Fijian authorities, Prime Minister Helen Clark says.
Miss Clark said family members of the person had approached government officials with the claim.
She would not reveal the identity ofthe person, but said Fijian authorities had not contacted New Zealand diplomats to alert them of the arrest.
Suva-based New Zealand businessman Ballu Khan was earlier detained after allegedly being beaten by police.
Mr Khan was one of 16 people arrested over what Fiji police say was an assassination plot against coup leader interim Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama, three of whom are due to appear in court today.
The three face charges of conspiracy to commit murder and treason.
Prime Minister Helen Clark said Mr Khan was so badly beaten while detained that he was having trouble speaking.
His lawyer Tevita Fa told Radio New Zealand today his client had been held without charge for 48 hours.
He would seek to have him moved to a New Zealand hospital for treatment.
"Of course the authorities would oppose this application but it will have to be made to court, to the high court, and the position will be assessed on the material we place before the court," Mr Fa said.
Mr Khan had approached the New Zealand High Commission in recent months because he thought he and his family were at risk.
Helen Clark confirmed yesterday that Ballu Khan had made contact on one occasion with the commission.
"He did call in and say he was concerned for himself and his family," Helen Clark said, but she did not have details.
By last night only one of several requests from New Zealand diplomats to see Mr Khan had been granted - on Sunday morning under the watch of police and military guard and when Mr Khan could barely speak because of his injuries.
He remained in hospital last night under heavy guard.
Meanwhile, Bainimarama said today he doesn't think the New Zealand and Australian governments were part of the assassination plot, blaming the media for "sensational reporting", referring to Police Commissioner Esala Teleni's comments that non-governmental organisations funded by foreign governments were involved.
