Five charged after 19 houses burnt

Five suspects are facing a total of 55 counts of arson after 19 houses were burnt down in West Yangoru, East Sepik, over a suspected sorcery incident, says provincial police commander Superintendent Robert Gesa.
Gesa said the suspects were each charged with 11 counts of arson after the burning at Belmore village on May 6 last year. “These suspects were arrested and charged after a long investigation,” Gesa said. “They were among other suspects who had allegedly burnt the houses down.”
All appeared in the Yangoru District Court on July 31, bailed for K700 each and scheduled to reappear on August 29. Some suspects are still at large. In a separate incident, eight houses were bunt down on Kairuru Island, Wewak, last week, but police could not attend because tthere was no fuel.