Man suspected of sorcery butchered in Morobe village

A FIFTY-two-year old suspected sorcerer was chopped to death with axes and bush knives at Belombibi village in Wasu, Tewai-Siassi, Morobe province last week.
The incident was reported to police last Thursday.
Snr Insp David Warap from the Morobe police said the incident occurred on Sept 29 around 7pm, when a group of people from the same village had suspected the elderly man of sorcery and gone to his house, attacked and “wilfully murdered” him.
Snr Insp Warap said the old man was reported to have three grown children but it was not known whether they were at the house during the incident.
The village is in walking distance from Wasu and police are currently making enquires and conducting investigations.
Also, last Sunday, an attempted murder incident was reported at Nawaeb district.
The man was attacked while at home at Possie village, in the Busu mountains by group of youths between 9am and 9.30am.
Police reports did not say if anything was stolen.
Snr Insp Warap said the victim was admitted and was recovering in hospital.
Meanwhile, Snr Insp Warap was concerned about the level of crimes in Siassi saying that there were reports of a murder and two attempted murders on the island last week.
“There are only two policemen on the island with no proper station and houses,” he explained.
He said the two officers were trying their best to enforce law and order but they were outnumbered and had also blended into the community.
Snr Insp Warap appealed to authorities to address the lack of police resources on the island and fund a mini-operation to be staged on the island to minimise crime.