What could have been a normal farming day turned eerie for a man who discovered the body of another who was reported missing from their settlement since July 25.

Iowane Sukanaisoro of Qauia Settlement yesterday detailed the account of how he found Bryce Acraman in the cassava patch on Monday. Mr Acraman was later identified by his brother. Police spokesperson, Ana Naisoro said a post-mortem would be done as investigations continued.

Mr Sukanaisoro said he left his home around 9.30am to tend to his cassava plantation, and when he decided to take a rest he felt the urge to walk a little further up.

“When I reached the place where I had farmed I started to weed and while I was making my way through the treks, the only thing I could notice on the ground was the footprints of two people.

“I kept walking and I thought the two were already somewhere ahead of me.”

The 47-year-old said by this time, he started to recall stories about the forest being haunted.

“I have always heard that two old women were always seen hanging around in the area, but I did not always believe in those suspicious thoughts.

“So I continued to walk through the bushes and as I went in I started smelling the stench of a dead body. I thought it was strange. I sat down and prayed.”

He said the smell made him think about the missing man that Police had been searching for in the same area. When he stopped, he saw the late Mr Acraman.

Mr Sukanaisoro recalled he stood in the same position for nearly 15 minutes shocked by what he had just seen.

He did not return to the village, but went straight to the Police where he filed a report.

Edited by Ranoba Baoa

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