One person is missing after a mishap in the Mazaruni River on Tuesday night and the police are investigating.
In a statement yesterday, the police identified the missing man as `Mark’ or `Rasta’. He disappeared after a wooden boat that he was in with two others capsized in the Middle Mazaruni.
The Police visited the scene at about midday yesterday. Initial investigations revealed that around 8.30 pm on Tuesday, Shojhi Roberts, a 32-year-old Ranger of Isseneru Village, Middle Mazaruni River, borrowed the village’s wooden boat, which is powered by a 75 Yamaha horsepower outboard engine and later left with Mark Benn and ‘Rasta’ for Apaiqua Landing, located about five minutes away.
Whilst navigating the river near a waterfall in the area, the boat hit a rock and the occupants were tossed from the boat into the river. The `balahoo’ sank, and the captain along with one of the occupants, Benn, managed to swim to shore. However, ‘Rasta’ was not seen. An alarm was raised, and checks were made in the area for ‘Rasta’, but this effort proved futile.
The matter was reported to the Police and ranks, and villagers formed a search party which is presently ongoing for the missing person, the police say.
Roberts is in police custody as the investigation continues.
