Police search and unable to locate a man jump at sea in Choiseul province

Taro police have searched and been unable to locate a 25-year-old man who jumped from a banana boat traveling to Taro township recently.

Provincial Police Commander (PPC) Superintendent Berry Pogesopa said it was reported that the incident occurred at sea between Babarakasa village and Taro Island around 7pm in the evening.

PPC Pogesopa said information was received, and Taro police conducted a search and rescue that evening and the day after but were unable to locate the person. The police team made a search along the coastlines as far as Pachuava village point with no sighting.

Mr. Pogesopa said the police search team also went as far as Redman Island and headed east to Molevanga village and returned. The search party went as far as Rabakela and Pakopoe village, and it was reported that there was no sighting of the missing person.

He said a search party had made surveillance through Moli Island, Kariki, and nearby islands without any sighting. Police told the communities visited that should they sight any missing person or have any information report it to Taro police.

PPC pogesopa said it was alleged that the 25-year-old man used to smoke marijuana and had mental problems, so they brought him to Taro for medical attention. The reason behind the jump is still unknown, and police are still investigating it.