Tears as father pleads for news of missing son

John Ma at yesterday's media conference and (inset right) son Jack. Picture / Dean Purcell

"We are praying for you all the time. We love you so much, Jack. Please come back."

This is the heartfelt message distraught North Shore father John Ma has for his 23-year-old son, Jack.

The Korean student, whose full name is Young Wook Ma, has been missing for 2 1/2 weeks.

Yesterday afternoon, Mr Ma and his younger son, Shane, appealed for anyone with information about Jack to come forward and for his son to come home.

"Jack, we miss you very much," Mr Ma said. "Where, where are you? Mum is crying every day and is too sick to attend here.

"Now we are very worried for your safety."

Between sobs he added: "If you cannot come back for some reason, it's OK ...

"Just let us know where you are and that you are OK.

"We will wait until you come back safely."

North Shore area commander Inspector Les Paterson said Jack Ma was last seen at his Unsworth Heights home on Monday, June 12, at 1.30pm.

He left the house before 5pm with his cellphone and house key, and has not been seen since.

Police have searched surrounding parks and reserves without success.

Mr Paterson said there was no evidence of foul play and the indications were that it was not a case of kidnapping.

He said police were investigating three possible scenarios, based on information suggesting there had been some changes in Jack Ma's behaviour in the weeks before his disappearance.

The possibilities were that the missing man had intentionally hurt himself, that he had been in an accident or that he was deliberately in hiding.

Mr Paterson also appealed for Jack Ma to come forward if he was in hiding.

"Jack, if you are out there, you owe it to your family and the whole community to make contact with your family."

The Ma family had been reluctant to appear at a media briefing as they felt shamed by the disappearance of their son.

They reluctantly agreed to appear yesterday in the hope their message will reach their son and he will come home.

* Anyone with information about Jack Ma's whereabouts is asked to telephone North Shore police on (09) 488-6200.


YOUNG WOOK ('JACK') MA

* The Waikato Institute of Technology (Wintec) computer studies student, a Korean national, is 23 and is known as Jack Ma.

* He wears glasses and was last seen in a grey zip-up jumper.

* He did not take his wallet with him.

* He did not take his bike, and does not have a car.

* He has not accessed his bank accounts.

* He was last seen at his Unsworth Heights home on June 12.