‘Sorcerer’ arrested for alleged rape

By REBECCA KUKU
MANUS police have arrested a 45-year-old man, who claimed to be a sorcerer, for allegedly raping a 14-year-old girl on three occasions in Lorengau in October 2018.
Manus commander Chief Insp David Yapu said the suspect, from Jowan No 2 Island, claimed that he could heal people who were suffering from bleeding.
“The suspect had on three occasions entered the girl’s bedroom and used his mobile phone to show the girl pornographic pictures before raping her,” he added.
Chief Insp Yapu said the suspect told the girl, from Bisikini’s Nyada village, that the rape was part of the process to heal her illness.
“However, the victim later reported the matter to her parents who then lodged police report,” he added.
Chief Insp Yapu said CID investigators from the sexual offences squad conducted investigations and arrested the suspect.
He said the suspect was scheduled to be charged in the Lorengau District Court next Wednesday.
Chief Insp Yapu appealed to parents of young girls to stop sending their daughters to so called “sorcerers” who claimed to possess healing powers.
“Health centres and hospitals are the only authorised places to seek medical treatment.
“Not from those who claimed to be sorcerers,” he added.