A national rugby representative is among eight soldiers charged in Fiji over a murder which sparked concerns about human rights abuses after the Pacific nation's latest military coup.
The soldiers were taken off an Iraq-bound flight on Saturday after charges were laid over the murder in February of
19-year-old Sakiusa Rabaka and the assault of other people.
A policeman, Patrick Nayacalagilagi, is also charged with the killing.
Rabaka's murder provoked anger and accusations that soldiers, drunk on power after the coup in December, were responsible for mistreating opponents of the military regime.
According to online reports at the time, Rabaka was arrested by soldiers and a policeman on January 28 for possession of marijuana and taken to the Army barracks.
He was allegedly stripped and beaten while being made to carry heavy sacks up a hill.
Rabaka returned to Nadi but died in hospital from his injuries.
Fiji's Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions revealed it had laid charges last Thursday, just before the soldiers were about to leave for peacekeeping duties in Iraq.
"Faced with a situation where the departure of the suspects would have deferred due process for an indefinite period and after unsuccessful attempts at consultation, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions decided to intervene," the office said.
The Fiji Times reported the soldiers were taken off a UN-chartered flight at Nadi airport on Saturday night.
A Fiji Rugby Union spokesman said a forward in the country's national sevens rugby team, Napolioni Naulia, was among the men charged, as was former player Jona Nareki.
The other accused soldiers are Taione Lua, Ulaiasi Radike, Ratuinaisa Toutou, Joeli Lesavua, Etonia Nadura and Ilaisa Kurimavua.
Fiji's military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Mosese Tikoitoga is reported to have criticised the DPP for not warning before the soldiers were given their overseas assignments that charges would be laid.
- AAP
