Bainimarama supports men after beating video

A still from the video. Photo / Supplied

Fijian Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama says he will support his men if they were involved in the repeated beating an escaped prisoner.

His comments come after a recent video showed two people getting badly beaten up by a group of men, believed to involve security staff.

Bainimarama told Fijivillage.com security personnel worked hard to protect the citizens of Fiji from hardened criminals.

He told the website the matter would be investigated but said he would support the men.

"At the end of the day, I will stick by my men, by the police officers or anyone else that might be named in this investigation.

"We cannot discard them just because they've done their duty in looking after the security of this nation and making sure we sleep peacefully at night," Fijivillage reported him saying.

Bainimarama said some had speculated the video involved prisoners who escaped from Naboro Prison last year.

"If you can remember that story, they broke into the bank and terrorized the people of Fiji for two whole weeks. In that two weeks I remember I was very worried about the security of the people of Fiji.

"These people should not forget what these guys did when they broke out of prison in those two weeks."

Bainimarama said he was not concerned about the reaction from aid organisations, which have called for a full independent investigation into the footage.

"NGOs are paid by the international community to jump up and down every time we do something," Bainimarama said.

"I really don't think we should worry too much about what the NGOs say in instances such as this."