Villager finds dead body in mangroves

 A decomposed body, believed to be that of a woman, was retrieved by police at Manguru, near Buka town, Autonomous Region of Bougainville, last Friday.

Acting Assistant Commissioner Chief Supt Paul Kamuai said the matter was referred to Buka police after one of the villagers found the body in the swamp while collecting firewood.

“Police are still working on the case and would like those who may have lost one of their female relatives or friends to come forward so that the decomposed body can be identified,” he said.

Kamuai said people living about 900m away from the mangrove patch where the body was found had been getting a bad smell for sometime but they did not suspect anything.

“Over the weekend, police have been out asking relatives and friends of missing persons to come forward so that this body can be identified and further investigation will continue.”

Kamuai said the body was believed to be there for over a month.