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Cult loot hauled into town
By JASON SOM KAUT
ALLEGED cult leader Ariganang Nanganag and six of his disciples will
appear before the Lae District Court today, while police make
arrangement with a commercial bank in town to count the cult loot,
mostly coins, flown into Lae yesterday.
Police confirmed that Nanganag and his six disciples were charged with
threatening police and Government officials who went into their village
to investigate reported cult activities.
Provincial police commander Chief Inspector Donald Yamasombi confirmed
that the men would appear for mention as his officers were preparing to
lay more charges relating to their cult activities.
Mr Yamasombi said a police investigation team was making arrangement
with a local bank to count the coins – a mixture of shilling, cents and
toea – and determine the actual value and, also if any financial
regulations were breached.
The coins were flown in from a mountain side village in Pindiu,
Finschhafen district, where the cult movement was practiced for many
years.
It took five helicopter trips to remove the money from the Sanzao cult’s
‘holy place’.
An envelope of notes and traditional ritual items including a ‘holy
spear’ used by cult figure Sadi Mongolive during cult activities, which
allegedly began in 1904, were also seized.
The envelope contained over K1,300 in notes and is believed to be part
of a sum traded in exchange for 20 toea coins for offerings to the
cult’s deceased co-founder known as Mongolive.
The monies and traditional items will be used as court exhibits when
Nanganag and his henchmen appear today in the Lae District Court house.
Folklore in the area has it that Mongolive, a spiritual snake with seven
heads came down from the heavens and met Sadi, who he commissioned to
lead the cult. Prior to his death Sadi commissioned Nanganag to take
over as leader.
In their investigation, police found that they were powerless to effect
arrest and prosecute them for their alleged involvement in cult
activities throughout the country.
Police investigations are continuing to substantiate other allegations
against the movement that spread over 17 villages and attracting over
2,000 people.
 
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