Tonga police are trying to identify skeletal human remains that were discovered in a remote cliffside area of Veitongo, on the southern coast of Tongatapu on June 25.

Police Commissioner Grant O’Fee said judging from the clothing it appeared to be a male person and samples would be sent overseas for DNA testing to try and confirm the identity, he said. A briefcase found with the remains contained several documents, including a Tongan passport that indicated the person might be Tongan. The documents found dated back to February 2012.

The remains were discovered in a remote bush area near the coastal cliffs. A rope hanging from a nearby tree was also found.

Commissioner O'Fee said today that it was premature to say what happened, since they were still trying to piece together the evidence and the cause of death is unknown. "Anything is possible," he said. The police have not received any missing person report.

The skeletal remains were not buried and were found by a group of men who were out looking for crabs at the coast last week. 

Police enquiries are continuing and the investigating officer is Salote Tonga.