Smell of a general

Once labelled as a “threat to community”, Iliaseri Saqasaqa has turned a new leaf and now works at a law firm.

Iliaseri Saqasaqa, also known as (AKA) General, became well known after he organised what was to be the first strike at the Maximum Security Unit at Naboro with his accomplice Mataiasi Curusese, AKA Make It, in 1980.

The 69-year-old said he had spent more than 30 years of his life in prison as a result of 84 convictions.

“My criminal journey began when I was in my 20s,” said Mr Saqasaqa.

“When the Naboro Prison was first established in 1973, I was one of the 10 inmates that was transferred there.

“Those 30 years of being locked up was not only for one crime. I escaped eight times from the Naboro Prison.”

Mr Saqasaqa describes his past as “a bad smell following him around”.

“My past criminal activities are something I am not proud of and I know I can’t erase it. It’s something I will live with for the rest of my life.

“I guess I fell into this habit because of the circumstances in which I grew up in. I was always drifting around the city and all over Fiji. On one occasion, I stowed away from here to Australia and stayed there for eight years.

“I returned to Fiji in 1992 and went to prison for 11 years because of that. I appeared in the Fiji Court of Appeal and they acquitted the conviction and I was thankful to be released.”

Speaking at a Resilience Lami event last month, the Kadavu gent reflected on his wrongs and said it felt great turning a new leaf.

“It’s not because of my old age that I stopped doing what I was known for. For all anybody knows, I could have been a mastermind sitting down at home asking others to do my deeds, but no, I did not take that path.

“I fully realised that crime doesn’t pay. Being invited to the Lami event by the police, who were once my enemies, is something I will hold close to my heart because they are now my friends.”

Blessed with 13 children Mr Saqasaqa said he had studied law at UniFiji and the University of the South Pacific (USP).

“I studied while in prison so by the time I came out, I went back to UniFiji to continue my studies and now work at the law firm, Ramanu MIQ, which is in Kinoya.”

His advice to young people is: “Crime doesn’t pay. Don’t get yourself caught up in situations you know will lead you down a bad road. Stay in school and always listen.”