Port Moresby police are investigating the mysterious death of a 14-year-old boy from Goilala, Central Province, who was found dead near the Koki Fish Market early this morning.
The boy has been identified as Stanley James, a Grade Four student attending Koki Primary School.
His mother said her son left home yesterday during the day and told her that he wanted to go to Koki to wash.
“The boy left the house yesterday during the day, telling me that he wanted to go to Koki and wash. I insisted, but he escaped and went there. He never returned in the afternoon when we started looking for him,” the grieving mother said.
She explained that they searched every possible location where they thought he might be but could not find him. It was only when they were driving back towards Two Mile that they heard news about a body found at the Fish Market.
“We went there and confirmed that it was James,” she said. “We now leave it to the police to investigate and find out how he died because, at this moment, we are not sure how he died. The police and the doctors will tell us how he died, so we will wait for the results.”
NCD Metropolitan Superintendent Warrick Simatab said police officers from the Criminal Investigating Division (CID) were gathering evidence and interviewing possible eyewitnesses to establish the cause of death.
He expressed concern over the increasing number of deaths reported in the city, saying people were losing their lives from different causes.
“I am calling on the city residents to be cautious when moving around. With the increasing death toll, some people do not have respect for others. Small things can lead to people losing their lives, like not monitoring each family member on how they move around and where they go. Checking on your family members daily shows that you care for them,” Met Supt Simatab said.
He added that no suspects have been arrested in connection with the boy’s death at this stage and investigations were continuing.