Left at the mercy of sea

By CLIFFORD FAIPARIK
POLICE have arrested three people for allegedly abandoning their relatives on a reef in shark-infested waters and escaping with their dinghy filled with beche-de-mers in Milne Bay, police commander Supt Peter Barkie says.
“These suspects driven by greed face manslaughter charges for abandoning three of their relatives at the mercy of sharks and sea on a far-flung reef in Samarai district,” he told The National.
“They left their village on Samarai Island and went to fish for beche-de-mers on the reef when it was low tide in the morning.
“Towards the afternoon high tide was coming in and the three suspects abandoned their relatives on the reef and returned to their village on the dinghy.
“Upon arrival they told the villagers that their three relatives went missing during fishing.
“However, the villagers were suspicious and reported the matter to police.”
Supt Barkie said police searched for the missing relatives and found one of them on a deserted atoll.
“They rescued the man on Friday and he revealed everything to them about being abandoned. He drifted to the atoll after the reef submerged in the high tide. His two other friends remain missing,” he said.
“They returned with the man to the village and arrested the suspects. The suspects are now detained at the Samarai police station and will be brought to Alotau police station to appear before the Alotau District Court.”
Search was still on for the two missing men.