Missing tourist

Police believe the fate of a Korean tourist missing from Nelson since 2003 may be more sinister than first thought.

After receiving new information into the disappearance of Jae Hyeon Kim, police scoured bush near Westport last week but did not find anything relevant.

Detective Inspector John Winter said yesterday police wanted to hear from the author of an anonymous letter they received on Friday. The letter "had the potential to materially assist the inquiry".

Winter said it was increasingly likely that a small group of people in the Westport area had relevant information and less likely that Kim died "by accident or natural causes".

Specialist police wound up their search of bush near the 4 Mile Bridge, south of Charleston, yesterday but five staff would continue inquiries.