Issue No: 929 10 July 2001
Police Commissioner Isikia Savua has embarked on a gay-bashing trail. Over the past week, Savua has condemned the
alleged lifestyle of murder victims John Scott and Gregory Scrivner.
Savua told a press conference yesterday that the murder of the couple was done out of "intense hatred" of the couple
for their exploitation of the accused. He stated: "Their liaison started when he was still in school. "He was a friend
of the couple. And the possible motive is his intense hatred for the couple in their exploitation of young people".
Savua also stated that the accused "did not like the way they were treating these young children". He also claims that
the investigation is now extending to other criminal activities like pornography, paedophilia and drug abuse.
Meanwhile, there is speculation that drugs found at Scott's home may have been planted by some elements of the police
and terrorists who want to portray that the murder was not politically motivated. Savua himself went on record, before
any arrest was made, saying that the murder was not politically motivated. Over the past year, the police department has
confiscated many kilograms of hard drugs.
Savua's outbursts have been condemned by most people in Fiji, including a former Deputy Police Commissioner Mosese
Tuisawau. Tuisawau states that Savua is acting like a judge rather than a police commissioner. Tuisawau also condemned
Savua's gay bashing, saying that Savua was trying to undermine the credibility and the good deeds of Scott.
The culprit arrested, one Apete Kaisau, is believed to be mentally unstable.
Scott and Scrivner were murdered on Sunday 1 July. Scott had gained fame during the hostage crisis when he was the only
outsider allowed to visit the hostages.
Scott had informed associates that he was scared of the police. He had compiled a 30-page report on what he had seen
and heard during the days the terrorists had kept the elected government hostage. It is understood that a senior police
officer, who was also implicated with assisting the terrorists, had asked Scott to take a `nothing seen, nothing heard'
attitude. Scott had also informed people that he was threatened by those supporting the terrorists into not giving any
evidence against them. (see: http://www.pcgov.org.fj/hot_press/no905.htm )
END