POLICE Commissioner Mathew Varley says that investigation into the case of a missing person at Ngadeli Reef Island, Temotu province, is continuing.

Mr Varley said the investigation is still open and they will pursue the case until they are satisfied, and he calls on the communities there to assist police with their investigation.

He urged the relatives and communities to remain calm and refrain from taking the law into their own hands and let the police deal with the case.

Commissioner Varley said the person was missing since January 1 of this year.

According to a statement issued by the Police Media Unit, the missing person is known as John Rentz Forest, and went missing at Ngadeli, Reef island on the night of January 1, 2017 after attending a day of celebration at Ngadeli.

Police said the search was started on January 2, 2017, by villagers from Reef Islands for the missing person and without any sighting.

It was at that time police were notified of the report.

Police then responded and have carried out investigation into the matter and will continue its investigation.Police also appeal to immediate family members of John Rentz Forest and entire community of Otambwe in the Reef Islands Temotu Province of the following;

• Refrain from any unwanted form of retaliation and allows police who now in custodian of the case to move freely in their investigation,
• That people within and around Otambwe/Reef islands to help out controlling the situation,
• That the issue is of police interest and Honiara based police investigators will soon tour the area.
• Taking matters into people own hands/interest will not solve the situation, and will hugely cost negative impact in this police investigation,
• People/relatives of late John Rentz Forest to be patient, and liaise with Lata Police officers.
• That people with credible information/story must direct to police and not to members of the public as that will not solve the issue but rather, expand its complexity.
• Police is prioritising this matter and are hopeful to address it amicably and professionally.
• Finally to entire people/populace of Reef islands particularly Otambwe, Ngadeli and nearby/surrounding to assist police in sourcing us credible information, and not to reverse when police investigation team present to do their work on areas concern.