K30,000 reward for info on scientists

A REWARD of K30,000 is being offered for any reliable information on the whereabouts of the five scientists who went missing last August in West New Britain.
The scientists – three males and two females – were working for the Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research which conducts malaria surveys on behalf of the national health department.
The five scientists were in WNB province in August last year doing one such survey.
The five are Gibson Gideon, Leonard Vavana,
George Dogoya, Lydia Petus and Tania Oakiva.
The scientists had left Milamata on the main New Britain Island in a 23-foot boat on Aug 1 bound for Bali island.
The group was initially thought to have been lost at sea but New Guinea islands police said they had information that the group was being chased by pirates.
They also said searches based on information from informants led them to a densely-forested  Mulgani island. Police said they found 10 machetes , two home-made guns and four mosquito nets from the scientists boat, mattresses and about 200 marijuana plants.