Outrage as eight suspects in sorcery-related killing released on legal technicality
Eight suspects arrested in connection with the brutal torture and murder of a woman accused of sorcery in Hela Province have been released by the Tari Court, sparking public outrage and condemnation from provincial leaders.
The suspects were detained at the Tari Police Station for two weeks and five days without formal charges being laid. Their release last Friday followed a legal application made by the Public Solicitor, citing human rights violations due to their unlawful detention.
Attempts by NBC News to obtain comments from local police were unsuccessful. The release has triggered concerns from the public and leaders, particularly after a graphic video of the woman being tortured and killed in Magarima District went viral on social media, drawing national criticism.
Among the most vocal critics of the court's decision is Hela Governor Philip Undialu, who described the incident as barbaric and deeply disturbing.
“My mother just passed away and I learned that another mother was being tortured and killed. This breaks my heart. We are living in the 21st century. Christianity has been part of our nation for more than half a century, and such barbaric behavior has no place in our society,” Governor Undialu said.
The governor, who flew to Magarima from Port Moresby after attending his mother’s funeral, said the suspects’ release on grounds of human rights, completely disregards the human rights of the victim.
“Let me be clear: this was not a petty offense. This was a calculated, violent act that ended in the death of an innocent woman,” Undialu said.
He further criticized the Criminal Investigation Division [CID] for failing to file appropriate charges, which allowed the suspects to be released on a legal technicality.
“The notion that such a serious case can be dismissed in just days is not only disappointing, it is dangerous. Justice must be victim-centered, not offender-friendly.”
Undialu called for an immediate review of current laws to ensure those who commit murder under the pretense of sorcery accusations are held fully accountable and cannot hide behind human rights legislation.
“We must now ask: Why did CID fail to prepare charges? Why were the suspects not remanded at Hawa Prison? Who is responsible for this breakdown in the justice system?” he asked.
The governor called for a better balance between due process and justice, particularly in cases involving sorcery-related violence, which he described as emotionally charged and complex crimes that demand thorough investigations and strong prosecutions, not rushed legal dismissals.
The incident has reignited calls for legal reform to address rising concerns about gender-based violence, sorcery-related killings, and the misuse of human rights laws to protect alleged perpetrators.