Mum mourning loss of son

By SAMUEL BARIASI
A MOTHER is mourning the loss of her son whose badly injured body was recovered by police two weeks ago from an area far from the Port Moresby settlement the family lives in.
Mother of four Cecelia Tom, said although she had not seen son Solomon’s body in the morgue, a policeman who was also a relative, confirmed that it was him.
A tattoo on his body and the clothes he was wearing on the day he disappeared further confirmed his identity.
Tom, from Koiari in Central, described 22-year-old Solomon as humble and hardworking, who was committed to his education and to supporting his family.
He was the second eldest of four children.
He had completed Grade 12 last year at Jubilee Catholic Secondary School and was selected to attend the University of Goroka this year.
But he had to delay his enrolment as he needed to raise money for his fees.
“His dad and I sell firewood to earn our living and support Solomon’s education,” Tom told The National.
“He was the only child in our family to have completed Grade 12 and he was our hope.”
Solomon had left their home at Tete Settlement in Gerehu on Saturday, July 4 to visit a relative also in Gerehu.
Family members began looking for him when he failed to return home that day.
Police homicide unit officer-in-charge Chief Sgt Ulagis Mantu said Solomon’s body was found by a woman the next day at 8-Mile.
“We received reports that he was kidnapped at Gerehu and was most likely killed somewhere between Gerehu and 8-Mile,” Mantu said.
He said Solomon had knife wounds all over his body and his face was badly disfigured.
Police are trying to figure out why he was attacked and who the culprits were.
“We have assisted the family to prepare the documents for a post-mortem. We have also advised the family and witnesses to come forward with any information about his attackers,” Mantu said.