*The maritime cadet alleges the incident occurred during a port call in Tuvalu. According to her Fiji Police statement, the events took place while the vessel was docked in Tuvalu in March 2024
Editorial Note Fijileaks has put a detailed series of questions to the Vice-Chancellor of Fiji National University, Professor Unaisi Nabobo-Baba, seeking clarification on the issues raised in this report, including what steps, if any, have been taken to assess and address potential safeguarding concerns. These questions go to the heart of the University’s duty of care to its students and the handling of serious allegations within its training programmes. At the time of publication, no response had been received. A full report will follow upon receipt of the University’s response or the expiry of the response deadline. |   |
She Filed a Police Report After a Tuvalu Voyage. Now Studies Within the Same System: Cadet’s Allegation Raises Questions for Fiji National University
A marine student has alleged that she was sexually assaulted during a 2024 maritime training voyage involving a port call in Tuvalu, later filed a police report upon her return to Fiji, and is now continuing her studies within the same institutional environment where the individual she accuses is said to hold a senior role, raising questions for Fiji National University (FNU) and law enforcement authorities.
According to a detailed written statement provided to Fijileaks, the cadet was attached to the container vessel Micronesian Pride in March 2024. She states that after an evening ashore in Tuvalu, she lost memory of subsequent events and later awoke in a senior officer’s cabin, undressed and disoriented, with no recollection of how she had come to be there.
The cadet further states that another officer later told her she had witnessed conduct consistent with a sexual assault while the cadet appeared unconscious.
She reports that she experienced significant physical pain the following morning and was admitted to hospital, where she underwent surgery and remained for several days. Upon returning to Fiji, the cadet states that she reported the matter to the company through which she had been engaged and subsequently filed a police report on 3 April 2024. She maintains that, to her knowledge, no action has been taken to date.
Fijileaks has not independently verified the allegation, which has not been tested in court, and no findings have been made by any judicial or investigative authority. The individual concerned is entitled to the presumption of innocence.
The matter now raises broader institutional questions.
The cadet is currently enrolled in a maritime training programme operating under Fiji National University. According to information provided to Fijileaks, the individual she accuses is said to be serving in a senior capacity within the same training environment. Fijileaks has not independently verified this information and has sought clarification.
If confirmed, the situation raises questions about safeguarding obligations within tertiary institutions, particularly where a complainant and the subject of an allegation may remain within the same academic or supervisory structure.
It also raises questions for police regarding the status of the report filed in April 2024 and whether any investigation has been undertaken.
Fijileaks has contacted Fiji National University seeking clarification on whether it is aware of the complaint and what measures, if any, have been taken to assess or manage potential risks.
At the time of publication, no response had been received.
This report does not determine the truth of the allegation. Rather, it reports the existence of a complaint, the absence of publicly known investigative progress, and the ongoing circumstances in which the complainant continues her training.
The central questions remain: What action, if any, has been taken on the police report?
What steps, if any, has the University taken to safeguard its student?
Until those questions are answered, the matter remains unresolved.
According to a detailed written statement provided to Fijileaks, the cadet was attached to the container vessel Micronesian Pride in March 2024. She states that after an evening ashore in Tuvalu, she lost memory of subsequent events and later awoke in a senior officer’s cabin, undressed and disoriented, with no recollection of how she had come to be there.
The cadet further states that another officer later told her she had witnessed conduct consistent with a sexual assault while the cadet appeared unconscious.
She reports that she experienced significant physical pain the following morning and was admitted to hospital, where she underwent surgery and remained for several days. Upon returning to Fiji, the cadet states that she reported the matter to the company through which she had been engaged and subsequently filed a police report on 3 April 2024. She maintains that, to her knowledge, no action has been taken to date.
Fijileaks has not independently verified the allegation, which has not been tested in court, and no findings have been made by any judicial or investigative authority. The individual concerned is entitled to the presumption of innocence.
The matter now raises broader institutional questions.
The cadet is currently enrolled in a maritime training programme operating under Fiji National University. According to information provided to Fijileaks, the individual she accuses is said to be serving in a senior capacity within the same training environment. Fijileaks has not independently verified this information and has sought clarification.
If confirmed, the situation raises questions about safeguarding obligations within tertiary institutions, particularly where a complainant and the subject of an allegation may remain within the same academic or supervisory structure.
It also raises questions for police regarding the status of the report filed in April 2024 and whether any investigation has been undertaken.
Fijileaks has contacted Fiji National University seeking clarification on whether it is aware of the complaint and what measures, if any, have been taken to assess or manage potential risks.
At the time of publication, no response had been received.
This report does not determine the truth of the allegation. Rather, it reports the existence of a complaint, the absence of publicly known investigative progress, and the ongoing circumstances in which the complainant continues her training.
The central questions remain: What action, if any, has been taken on the police report?
What steps, if any, has the University taken to safeguard its student?
Until those questions are answered, the matter remains unresolved.
A view from Tuvalu, where a maritime cadet says events unfolded during a training voyage in March 2024. It was after crew had a few drinks at the Funafuti Lagoon Hotel, and a refreshing swim, and returned to the vessel
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Meanwhile, Fijileaks has reviewed the student's full statement but is publishing selected extracts in the public interest.
“One of the female officers wanted to continue drinking, so I decided to accompany her and a few others to another location on the island. I remember opting for juice while they had beer and even took a refreshing swim before we returned to the ship. My last clear memory of that night was getting into a car with the staff to go back to the vessel. Upon waking up, I found myself in the ______cabin. Recognizing that I was undressed, I quickly wrapped myself in a towel and left the cabin. Another officer later told me that after putting me down on her bed, she went to do her laundry. When she returned, she saw the ______on top of me while I appeared to be unconscious.”
SILENCE from Vice-Chancellor Unaisi-Baba and Amelia Turagabeci
