Bodies of Seleo trio retrieved

By BOSORINA ROBBY
THE bodies of the three Seleo Island men have been retrieved by police at Aitape, West Sepik, from a fuel barge belonging to the logging company Samas International Ltd, Det-Const Salvator Nivani confirmed yesterday.
Nivani, Aitape’s Criminal Investigation Division officer in charge, said the bodies were now in the Raihu District Hospital morgue awaiting the coroner to determine the cause of death of the three.
The men are believed to have died instantly after they inhaled the strong fumes from the barge they were allegedly trying to steal fuel from.
The deaths are believed to have occurred between late Monday night and early Tuesday morning.
Nivani said the group had already filled six 25-litre containers of fuel from one side of the barge before moving to the other side.
There they met their fate.
He said the two men were transporting the containers to a waiting canoe before deciding to check out the other fuel tank.
He said it was unfortunate that the cause of death would not be immediately known as the coroner at Vanimo was out of the country.
Nivani said he hoped a forensic team from Port Moresby would offer its services to determine the cause of death.