Military torture victim gets $.8million
Friday September 07, 2007

A university lecturer who was abducted and tortured by soldiers in 1990 has been award $793,022 as compensation by the High Court.

High Court judge Justice Roger Coventry ruled yesterday that the State, and the soldiers involved, pay Doctor Anirudh Singh the money.

Justice Coventry said that he regarded Singh's original claim of $25,000 for exemplary damages "too modest" given the circumstances of the case.

Singh was abducted and tortured by five solders on October 24, 1990 after Singh had burnt a copy of the 1990 Constitution six days earlier.

The soldiers - Captain Sotia Ponijese, Waqa Vakaloloma, Uate Qalo, Iliesa Raiqiso and Samuela Keni - who were members of the army's Special Operations Security Unit, admitted guilt and were sentenced to 12 months imprisonment, suspended for 15 months.

The military had denied that the soldiers were acting under orders and disassociated itself from the soldiers' actions.

Singh sought compensation from the State in 1993 when he took the matter to the High Court.

Justice Coventry had ruled in favour of Singh on November 2006, stating that "tortious acts" committed by the five solders "were so closely connected with their employment and in particular the functions and purposes of the Special Operations Security Unit that the sixth defendant (The Attorney-General), representing the State, is vicariously liable for those tortious acts".

And in his ruling yesterday Justice Coventry held that view stating the wrongdoing was that of the Fiji Military Forces by reason of their close connection.