Woman survives sorcery-mob attack, torture and attempt to slit her throat
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Gabby … survived sorcery mob attack and an attempt to slit her throat
Woman survives sorcery-mob attack, torture and attempt to slit her throat
PORT MORESBY: Jacklyn Gabby, in her 30s, is one tough lucky Papua New Guinean.
She miraculously survived a sorcery mob attack by between 50 and 100 people, tortured and an attempt to slit her throat.
Police rescued the bloodied Gabby in the nick of time in Kamkumung’s Peter Block on Jan 11.
Police, last Friday (Jan Jan 24), arrested two prime suspects after picking up five men.
They are now investigating to identify more suspects.
PNG Cyber Monitor reproduces below details of the case reported by The National:
Dad, son held for attack
By PISAI GUMAROMILI police have arrested a man and his son for inciting sorcery violence and attack on a woman following the sudden death of a three-year-old girl in Kamkumung’s Peter Block on Jan 11.
The two suspects were among five who were arrested in a dawn raid last Friday mounted and led by police station commander Constable Elias Labi and two others.
Miraculously, Jacklyn Gabby, in her 30s, survived the sorcery-related torture which included an attempt to slit her throat.
Police, who were alerted of the torture in a Facebook posting, had on Jan 11 rushed to Peter Block and rescued the bloodied Gaby in the nick of time.
PC Labi told The National that Gabby was called in to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) office to identify the five suspects.
Based on Gabby’s report, three others were released, while the father and son were detained as prime suspects.
“The CID will continue to interrogate the father and son to establish those involved in attacking and torturing Gabby.
This is Morobe, unlike in the highland provinces where you encourage or incite mob-attack and torturing of people accused for sorcery without evidence.
“Be mindful that police will evict people involved in or participate in any mob-attack and torturing of people accused of practising sorcery,” he said, adding that there were relevant agencies and church groups, including the police, whom the people can report for action and to save lives.
“This (Lae) is a metropolitan city and my boss (Met Supt) Chief Insp Chris Kunyanban really condemns tribal and sorcery-related violence, attacks and killings,” PC Labi said.
He said between 50 and 100 people were involved in the mob-attack on Gabby and that they will be arrested once their identities had been determined or established.
Chief Insp Kunyanban earlier told The National that citizens should never take the law in their own hands, instead report to police who are mandated to enforce the law.
“Therefore, we will act upon the report to investigate thoroughly those who participated in hurting Gabby,” he added.
Chief Insp Kunyanban said the repeal of the Sorcery Act had made police investigations into sorcery violence and killings that much more difficult but “we are concentrating on raising public awareness on sorcery-related crime”.
On Jan 15, The National reported that besides having to endure the ordeal of torture and an attempt to slit Gabby’s throat, the houses and gardens belonging to Gabby and relatives in Peter Block were torched by the sorcery mob.
Police had also on Dec 31, Jan 4 and 5 recovered three bodies (two women and a man) on the Mendi River banks.
Western End police commander Asst Comm (ACP) Kaiglo Ambane told The National that police believed the bodies were victims of sorcery-related executions conducted upstream in Karintz.
The two suspects were among five who were arrested in a dawn raid last Friday mounted and led by police station commander Constable Elias Labi and two others.
Miraculously, Jacklyn Gabby, in her 30s, survived the sorcery-related torture which included an attempt to slit her throat.
Police, who were alerted of the torture in a Facebook posting, had on Jan 11 rushed to Peter Block and rescued the bloodied Gaby in the nick of time.
PC Labi told The National that Gabby was called in to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) office to identify the five suspects.
Based on Gabby’s report, three others were released, while the father and son were detained as prime suspects.
“The CID will continue to interrogate the father and son to establish those involved in attacking and torturing Gabby.
This is Morobe, unlike in the highland provinces where you encourage or incite mob-attack and torturing of people accused for sorcery without evidence.
“Be mindful that police will evict people involved in or participate in any mob-attack and torturing of people accused of practising sorcery,” he said, adding that there were relevant agencies and church groups, including the police, whom the people can report for action and to save lives.
“This (Lae) is a metropolitan city and my boss (Met Supt) Chief Insp Chris Kunyanban really condemns tribal and sorcery-related violence, attacks and killings,” PC Labi said.
He said between 50 and 100 people were involved in the mob-attack on Gabby and that they will be arrested once their identities had been determined or established.
Chief Insp Kunyanban earlier told The National that citizens should never take the law in their own hands, instead report to police who are mandated to enforce the law.
“Therefore, we will act upon the report to investigate thoroughly those who participated in hurting Gabby,” he added.
Chief Insp Kunyanban said the repeal of the Sorcery Act had made police investigations into sorcery violence and killings that much more difficult but “we are concentrating on raising public awareness on sorcery-related crime”.
On Jan 15, The National reported that besides having to endure the ordeal of torture and an attempt to slit Gabby’s throat, the houses and gardens belonging to Gabby and relatives in Peter Block were torched by the sorcery mob.
Police had also on Dec 31, Jan 4 and 5 recovered three bodies (two women and a man) on the Mendi River banks.
Western End police commander Asst Comm (ACP) Kaiglo Ambane told The National that police believed the bodies were victims of sorcery-related executions conducted upstream in Karintz.
The bodies were held in Mendi Hospital’s mortuary while Mendi commander Chief Supt Martin Lakari appealed to family members and relatives to come forward to identify the victims and for post-mortems to be conducted on the suspicious deaths.
However, on Jan 18, the three bodies were illegally and criminally removed from the mortuary between 10pm and 3am Sunday.
Chief Supt Lakari said those responsible for removing or releasing the bodies of suspicious deaths could be prosecuted for interfering and obstructing police investigations.
He said this in response of joint-statements by provincial health authority chairman Dr Joseph Birisi and provincial administrator Joseph Cajetan claiming that the bodies were released upon requests by relatives to bury the bodies.
Chief Supt Lakari said police criminal investigation officers were conducting enquiries in the hospital to find out who authorised the criminal and illegal removal of the victims.
However, on Jan 18, the three bodies were illegally and criminally removed from the mortuary between 10pm and 3am Sunday.
Chief Supt Lakari said those responsible for removing or releasing the bodies of suspicious deaths could be prosecuted for interfering and obstructing police investigations.
He said this in response of joint-statements by provincial health authority chairman Dr Joseph Birisi and provincial administrator Joseph Cajetan claiming that the bodies were released upon requests by relatives to bury the bodies.
Chief Supt Lakari said police criminal investigation officers were conducting enquiries in the hospital to find out who authorised the criminal and illegal removal of the victims.
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