A police officer in Fiji has been suspended after footage emerged of a violent arrest of a bus driver in Labasa, the largest town on the island of Vanua Levu.
Footage shared on social media showed the officer with his hands around the driver's neck before he pulled the man's head back with force.
The driver, 30-year-old Elvin Riteshi Mani, can be heard afterwards repeating, "I can't breathe".
Later, the police officer is seen forcefully pushing the handcuffed driver forward by the neck.
Commissioner of Police Brigadier-General Sitiveni Qiliho said in a statement the officer was on leave, awaiting the outcome of an investigation.
The bus driver was charged with one count of failure to give his name and address and one count of serious assault, as police said he had "assaulted the officer during the execution of his duties".
It is unclear why police first approached Mr Mani.
The incident, which took place on Monday afternoon, has been shared thousands of times on social media and has thrust police brutality in Fiji under the spotlight.
The driver's sister, Shelyn Mani, said she was shaken and disturbed by the footage.
"The thought that came to my mind is what happened in America to the innocent American (George Floyd), how he was brutally killed," she told ABC's Pacific Beat program.
Ms Mani said she was concerned about her brother's health and wellbeing after a brief phone conversation while he was in custody, in which he told his family he was "not well".
"[Police] are just, they're abusing their uniform. They're abusing their power. They're abusing their rights," she said.
Local media reported that Mr Mani was released on bail after appearing in the Labasa Magistrates Court on Tuesday afternoon.
The Fiji Bus Operators Association condemned the incident in a social media post on Monday.
Acting President Zane Dean called on the Fiji Police Force to "seriously examine the behaviour of its officers".
"The incident ... demonstrates the lack of understanding of some police officers about their role and the limits to their powers," he said.
"Bus drivers work daily to ensure the travelling public are able to move to and from their destinations and should not have to endure such treatment while carrying out their duties."
The Guardian is reporting that 400 charges of serious violence have been laid against Fiji police officers between May 2015 and April 2020.
Lenora Qereqeretabua is a member of Parliament for National Federation Party, the country's opposition party, and witnessed the event firsthand.
"It was pretty shocking," she told Pacific Beat program.
Ms Qereqeretabua can be heard telling the police officer "violence is not the way".
The president of the Fiji Law Society, Wylie Clarke, said the incident not only undermined public trust in police but eroded the rule of law.
"Rule of law requires the respect for people's human rights and people's right to question authority, and to raise legitimate questions about why they are being detained," he said.
"This is, unfortunately, just the latest in what's been too many examples of this sort of action."
Mr Clarke said as more people were able to capture and film these incidents on their own electronic devices, the issues had been brought to public attention, "but I think you'll find that it's actually been there all along".
