Missing Persons

In 2012, the couple, both aspiring teachers awaiting their ticket fares to travel for their first year of studies at the University of Goroka, left their two children, the eldest son being four and the youngest daughter only two years old. 

Romney, against the prolonged wait for his ticket, while late Laupu being denied a ticket due to reasons unknown to this day, decided to make the trip to Goroka by ship to Lae, then by PMV to the university. This plan did not pan out the way they hoped. 

The 14 ELC East Simbu District delegates were on their way to attend the 21^st National Youth Conference on Tuesday, September 26^th, when the boat they were travelling in went missing.

ELCPNG Head Bishop, Reverend Dr Jack Urame, said they were informed of the mishap on Thursday, September 28^th, where they quickly liaised with the relevant authorities to conduct a search.

A search is on for the boat and its missing passengers. New Ireland Provincial Administrator Moses Taram said onboard the craft were two women, three minors and two operators.

The boat left Kavieng on Saturday, 07 January. They did not reach their destination.

This morning, the NIP Disaster office sent out a 25-foot boat to patrol the Tigak, Lovongai and Mussau Islands for the missing travelers.  

The former ward councillor of Bundralie ward, Pobuma LLG, was found lying under a tree without his hands and toes.

Provincial police commander, chief inspector David Yapu, said the head was also separated from the torso.

“Police are treating the matter as suspicious death and are still pursuing their investigations into the matter,” stated PPC Yapu.

He appealed to locals to assist police with information.

Provincial Police Commander, Chief Inspector David Yapu, said Bobby Pukel was travelling back to Tong Island after independence celebrations when he fell overboard.

Police allege that he and the skipper were drunk when leaving Lorengau town at 1pm on a 23-footer boat powered by a 40 HP engine.

PPC Yapu said the alarm was raised at the village and search was mounted at sea for five days but to no avail.

The boat operator who was with Pukel at that time is being questioned by police.

Gaubin Rural Hospital administrator Yang Letag said the corpse was discovered at 1pm yesterday and is currently at the morgue.

They are appealing to any relatives of missing persons to come forward and claim the body of the young woman, which will be moved to Madang on Thursday morning.

Letag said the provincial health office and disaster office have been notified, however there is no funding available to move the body.

The deceased has New Guinea islands features, has dark skin and was discovered in the open sea near a floater.

The NCD metropolitan superintendent made this statement following numerous missing persons posts on Facebook.

Port Moresby residents have been urged to refrain from inciting fear after several individuals took to social media in recent weeks to post about missing family members or friends without filing reports with police, or in some cases, posting without exhausting all avenues.   

Metropolitan superintendent, Perou N’Dranou, reiterated that a number of those reported to be missing were, in actual fact, not missing at all.

NCD Metropolitan Superintendent, Perou N’Dranou, said this when he met with media to help get the message out to families.

Missing persons reports have increased to 2 to 3 per month, and police in NCD are gravely concerned about this.

On Tuesday, N’Dranou told media that parents, family members and even the general public need to start protecting the vulnerable from opportunists.

Senior citizens aged 65 or over account for up to 80% of missing elderly person cases, according to the Zhongmin Social Assistance Institute under the Ministry of Civil Affairs.

"This is obviously a huge number and a social issue we cannot afford to ignore," Wang Zhikun, president of the Zhongmin institute, said on Sunday.

Around 25% of those missing had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's or dementia, while 72% suffered some sort of memory impairment, according to the report.

Peter's father Alfred (pictured right) is a security guard in Port Moresby and family  lives at Taikone settlement.

The father came to the Police Media unit yesterday (8^th January) for assistance but because of the pre-recording schedule, Peter's story will be featured on the Crime Stoppers program on January 13. 

Media officer David Terry has since been prompted in an online post on FB to post this story in the hope of finding some answers.