By Katalina Siasau
A unidentified human head, discovered wrapped in a sack and anchored to the ocean floor, near the Yellow Pier in Nuku’alofa, is no longer a suspected homicide, say Tonga Police, who are now investigating the possibility that it was taken from a grave by people holding supernatural beliefs.
Two fishermen made the discovery at around 3:00 am on Christmas morning, 25 December.
Deputy Police Commissioner Tevita Vailea confirmed today that the human remains were a human head, and that a post-mortem report had revealed that the head was separated or cut off from the body after death.
The gender has not been identified.
“Because of the nature and circumstances that this human remains was found in, it triggered us to launch it as a homicide or murder case," he said.
However, after they received the report of the pathologist and the post-mortem result, they ruled out this case as a murder case.
Ongoing investigation
Dep. Commissioner Vailea said police were now looking into the possibility that the head was taken from the grave of a deceased person.
Police divers searched the Yellow Pier area for three days, and found a bag with leaves that looked like it was made into some sort of vai Tonga, or Tongan medicinal herbs.
"That could be evidence connected to this case and, most likely, people with supernatural beliefs who have done this."
He said the Police priority now was to work together with town officers and district officers, looking out for graves that might have been destroyed or tampered with.
Meanwhile, there had not been any reports from any families or communities reporting that their cemetery had been broken into.
He said because the head was found in Nuku'alofa, the area will be their main focus and also nearby villages.
Police are also looking into death records.
If there are any reports of human remains missing from graves, then they would have to conduct DNA tests to confirm the relatives of the human remains, he said.
