Fijian Police Constable Peniasi "Ben" Racagi, 24, was on duty the night before his body was found in the early hours of Sunday, February 22, in the town of Lami, Fiji. Photo / Supplied
Fijian Police Constable Peniasi "Ben" Racagi, 24, was on duty the night before his body was found in the early hours of Sunday, February 22, in the town of Lami, Fiji. Photo / Supplied
Fijian police are probing “foul play” after the death of an officer whose body was found floating in the sea.
Constable Peniasi “Ben” Racagi’s body was found off a beach in the town of Lami, less than a 10-minute drive from Fiji’s capital Suva.
Police were alerted early on Sunday(local time) – hours after the young officer reported for duty the night before.
Police Commissioner Rusiate Tudravu confirmed the results of a post-mortem examination this afternoon.
Fijian Police Commissioner Rusiate Tudravu speaks to media about the death of Constable Peniasi Racagi. Image / Fiji Police
“The findings have established elements of foul play,” he told a media conference.
“To lose one of our men, who was diligently carrying out his duty, who swore an oath, and committed his life to serving members of the public, is heartbreaking.”
He also had a stern message for those responsible: “Be warned that you’ll face the full consequences of your unlawful act.”
The death has sent shockwaves around the small island nation, with many people taking to social media calling for justice for the young police officer and his family.
Fijian Police Constable Peniasi "Ben" Racagi, 24, was on duty the night before his body was found in the early hours of Sunday, February 22, in the town of Lami, Fiji. Photo / Supplied
According to the Fiji Sun newspaper, initial indications on Sunday were that there may have been a struggle.
A button from Racagi’s police uniform was found on the beach while his police identification badge and beret were missing, the publication reported.
Tudravu said investigation officers had been told to keep “an open mind” while looking into their colleague’s death.
Body found down road from police station
He also appealed to people in the area between 7pm, Saturday, to 6am, Sunday, who may have seen anything suspicious or out of the ordinary, to let authorities know.
Racagi was a constable based at the Lami Police Station, on Solomoni St – a two-minute walk to where his body was found off the beach behind the Lami Oceania Wesley Church on Queens Rd.
Fijian Police Constable Peniasi Racagi's body was found off the beach behind the Lami Oceania Wesley Church (pictured) – a short walk from the Lami Police Station. Image / Google Maps
Police earlier confirmed that a second officer was due to be on patrol with Racagi, but was on a day off.
Asked about allegations that police officers in Lami had received threats, following drug raids carried out in the area in recent weeks, Tudravu said there was no connection at this stage.
He did, however, confirm that Racagi was among the officers who were called out to those drug raids.
Tudravu acknowledged that the death of one of their own – particularly while on duty and in uniform – had impacted their force. But it was also a reminder of what they had taken an oath to do.
“It’s a matter of life and death when you use this uniform,” he said.
“This is what we have sworn an oath for ... these are all the things that we will face.
“Once you choose to wear the uniform, there are risks to it.”
Vaimoana Mase is the Pasifika editor for the Herald’s Talanoa section, sharing stories from the Pacific community. She won junior reporter of the year at the then Qantas Media Awards in 2010 and won the best opinion writing award at the 2023 Voyager Media Awards.
