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	Police Arrest Teacher, Priest Fiji Times October 28, 2008 http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=104733 A METHODIST church minister and a secondary school teacher accused of punching a school student were arrested from Bua College yesterday. Reverend Kalivati Sotia and woodwork teacher Aminiasi Mateiwai have been charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm. Divisional Crime Officer Northern Luke Rawalai said a team of Criminal Investigation Department officers left Labasa early yesterday to make arrests at the school compound where the teacher and minister lived. "We will hold them in custody and produce them in court on Wednesday morning (tomorrow) because Tuesday is a public holiday," Mr Rawalai said. The two men allegedly punched Form Five student Neumi Toava on separate occasions to discipline him. Salanieta Ravatu lodged a complaint with police claiming the school teacher punched her son repeatedly in the face and chest last Tuesday evening after he was found standing outside the study room with a female classmate. Mrs Ravatu said her son, a boarding student, was punched while two teachers stood by watching. Reverend Sotia allegedly punched Mr Toava in the 2nd week of the school term after he found the student chatting with his girlfriend during study hour. Interim Education Minister Filipe Bole said corporal punishment is illegal. "Teachers who continue to inflict corporal punishment do not deserve any respect." Mr Bole stated. "Teachers should explore other avenues of handling disciplinary problems and have no right to inflict corporal punishment because it is both legally and morally wrong," he added. Mr Bole urged parents to report violence by teachers. Methodist Church general secretary Reverend Tuikilakila Waqairatu said the church could not comment until it received a report from the minister.
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