By DANA SMITH

Tribune Staff Reporter

dsmith@tribunemedia.net

The badly decomposed body of a man wearing an electronic monitoring ankle bracelet was found in bushes off an isolated track road on the north-side of the South Beach canal, yesterday morning.

The bloodied body was discovered by a fisherman, according to Supt Paul Rolle, who said that the body of a man in his thirties, is thought to have been there for “at least a week”.

Speaking to the press at the scene, Supt Rolle added that police discovered two fired gun cartridges near the body and are investigating the discovery of the body as a murder.

The track road is located off East Street South.

“Sometime around 11am this morning, police at the South Beach police station received reports of a body of a male in the bushes in the vicinity of the South Beach canal,” Supt Rolle said.

“Officers responded to the scene where upon examination discovered what appears to be a male body in an advance state of decomposition. It appears that there is a heavy concentration of blood stains in the shirt area of the individual.”

The man was wearing a large silver link chain, a

silver watch, black jeans with a marijuana leaf design, and black and red tennis shoes. He was also wearing an electronic monitoring ankle bracelet.

“Persons hearing this description, knowing that they haven’t seen their loved ones in the last several days may wish to give us a call,” Supt Rolle appealed.

“We have reason to believe this individual is or may be a resident of the Kennedy Subdivision area in New Providence. That’s as much as we know at this point in time.”

When asked if the body might have been dumped there or whether the man died at the scene, Supt Rolle said: “We’re unable to make that determination because of the advanced state of decomposition.”

As for questions concerning the ankle bracelet system, Supt Rolle referred queries to the monitoring centre. He said: “I couldn’t speak to that.”

He added an autopsy would have to be carried out to determine the exact cause of death.

When reached for comment on this latest incident, a representative at ICS concepts – the company that monitors the ankle bracelets – told The Tribune the company has “no comment” on the matter.

It was last month that National Security Minister Dr Bernard Nottage said the government is “concerned” about the effectiveness of the ankle bracelet monitoring system and greater restrictions need to be placed on offenders.

He also hinted that the police force may take over the monitoring of the ankle bracelet system. He said, the contract is set to be reviewed and updated this year.