A 62-year-old man from North Waghi in Jiwaka Province, who had gone missing since 3 October 2025, has been found dead at Brown River in Central Province.
Central Provincial Police Commander Acting Superintendent Joseph Salle, who was informed by family members, confirmed that Aiwa Ape left his family home that day and never returned.
He said police were investigating the incident and have detained five suspects for questioning.
PPC Salle and his officers were notified through a Facebook post that included a photo of the late Ape standing in front of his vehicle before he went missing. The vehicle was recovered in Mekeo, which later led the police to identify the person who drove it to Mekeo.
“We have spoken to the family of the deceased, who accompanied us to the location where we retrieved the body and took it to Port Moresby. The five suspects are now in police custody, where they will be investigated and charged accordingly. It was an unfortunate situation for the man, who, though he will return to his family, did not make it since the day he went missing. We will work closely with the family to ensure that those involved face the full force of the law,” PPC Salle said.
He commended police from Berina, Laloki, and all the operational units from Central, as well as the forensic team, who worked together to retrieve the body.