There was excitement in the Tailevu village of Wailotua in Wainibuka when the her own son Apenisa Naigulevu was released from prison.

But this time it was a bit different when Naigulevu was accompanied back to the village by senior officers of the Fiji Prisons and Correctional Service to be officially handed over to the care of the village. It is the first time that such a gesture care was witnessed in the village. The Salvation Army assisted in providing Naigulevu with basic farming tools such as knife, fork, spade and portable spray tank.

The escort team included the OC Minimum Security Prison Acting ASP Savenaca Baleiwai, CO Medium Security Prison CPO Sakiusa Veiwili and POCs Saula Vuira and Rafaele Tagiveitaua. The delegation was received by the village led by chief, the Tui Wailevu and the church pastor.

ASP Baleiwai said that it was the first time that Minimum Prison was involved in escorting a released offender and it was a good learning experience.

The formal handing over of released offenders to the community is a new initiative to demonstrate the care and interest of the department in the continuing care of offenders when they are released to society.