Police Commissioner Rusiate Tudravu says investigations into the death of Jone Vakarisi are in their final stages, with the case expected to be referred to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for legal advice once police inquiries are complete.

Speaking to the media, Commissioner Tudravu said investigators are currently conducting interviews before finalising the case file.

“Jone Vakarisi’s process is going on well. People need to trust the process that we are following,” he said.

“The investigation has been done, and interviewing is currently being undertaken, so it will be finalised soon. The general public will be informed of the outcome of the investigation.”

He added that once police complete their work, the investigation file will be forwarded to the DPP to determine whether criminal charges should be laid.

The case has drawn widespread public attention since Vakarisi died while in the custody of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) at the Queen Elizabeth Barracks earlier this year.

Police subsequently reclassified the matter as a murder investigation following post-mortem findings that contradicted the initial account of his death.

The investigation has involved interviewing witnesses and gathering evidence as police seek to establish the circumstances surrounding Vakarisi’s death.

Commissioner Tudravu did not indicate when the investigation would be completed or when the file would be submitted to the DPP but said the public would be updated once the process is finalised.