Call for arrests after mob attacks man over sorcery

A public servant in Lae wants police to arrest suspects who tried to kill one of her relatives after accusing him of practising sorcery at a village near Mumeng in Morobe.
Ann Tumark, a teacher at Bugandi Secondary, made this call after her relative was attacked at Parakris village on Monday morning following sorcery allegations.
Tumark said her relative was attacked by a mob from the village following the death of a child.
“They came to his house and woke him up at the early hours of Monday and accused him of practising sorcery,” she said.
“He was beaten by the mob for about one hour.”
Tumark said the alleged attackers came back during the morning and burnt down the home of the accused and destroyed his properties.
“I want police to intervene and arrest the attackers before they kill him. His life is in danger now as they would find excuses to attack him again,” she said.
The accused, who wished to remain anonymous, said he was shocked when the village mob blamed him for causing the death of the child.
“I was beaten badly and I was forced to admit to them that I had caused the death. I knew I was innocent so I told them that I did nothing to cause the death so they left me,” he said.
He said he went to the Mumeng Police Station after the attack and filed a formal complaint to request assistance from police.
“I then sought refuge at the police station after that as the village mob tried to find me and kill me. The police in Mumeng went to the village but did not arrest anyone,” he said.
Morobe police commander Augustine Wampe said he had not received the report but would verify the story with Mumeng Police.
He said it was illegal to accuse people of practising sorcery.
“Conducting sorcery trials outside of the court room is uncalled for and anyone who does that will be dealt with by police,” he said.