Court: Many still believe in sorcery

National

By TABITHA NERO
MANY Papua New Guineans still believe in the power of sorcery, according to senior magistrate Cosmas Bidar.
“Many times there is no proof of those involved in sorcery and many innocent people have died from sorcery accusations,” Bidar said in the Waigani Commital Court on Friday.
He said this after reading charges to a man who was alleged to have attempted to kill two men after accusing them of sorcery.
Gideon Maiva Guta, from Lufa, Eastern Highlands, was charged with attempted murder of Ikime Aute and Ben Kope on July 10 at Garden Hills, National Capital District.
The court heard that Guta and others allegedly attacked Aute and Kope with an axe, pieces of iron rods and hot water after suspecting them of sorcery.
They accused the pair of using sorcery to kill Guta’s daughter Linix Gideon.
“It is important to have a doctor’s report when there is a death,” Bidar said.
He said there were many media reports, especially from the Highlands, that people had been killed over sorcery allegations.
The court also heard that following the incident, Guta sent his other daughter and another man from Eastern Highlands to Rabaul, East New Britain, to look for a sorcerer who could identify people who used sorcery to kill his younger daughter.
The court ordered Guta to remain in custody at Bomana prison.