THE death of a 12-year-old boy whose body was found near his Wailoku home is being treated as murder as investigations continue, police said.
The victim, Lote Qima, was reported missing after he failed to return home from a neighbour’s house where he was last seen playing on Wednesday night last week.
His mother later lodged a missing person’s report, prompting a search by family members and police.
The search ended when the boy’s body was discovered near the family home at around midday on Saturday.
Police have since taken a 17-year-old boy into custody for questioning in relation to the case.
The juvenile is being interviewed in the presence of a guardian, in accordance with legal requirements.
A 29-year-old man who had earlier been taken in for questioning has since been released.
Police said investigations into the circumstances surrounding the boy’s death were continuing.
The case has shocked the Wailoku community as detectives work to establish the events leading to the alleged murder.
