THREE SENTENCED TO 48 YEARS IMPRISONMENT FOR SORCERY OFFENCES – POLICE CRACK DOWN ON MURDERS AND GLASSMEN

Commissioner of Police, David Manning. File picture.

The Commissioner of Police, David Manning, has commended the work of police and the Public Prosecutor following the conviction of three men in connection with the torture and murder of a school teacher in Eastern Highlands Province.

According to a statement released by Commissioner Manning, the three men, all from Eastern Highlands Province, were sentenced to 48 years in prison by the National Court.

“I commend the commitment and professional work of investigators and prosecutors in securing convictions in connection with this disgraceful act of violence,” Commissioner Manning said.

He added, “The sentence handed down by the Court is appropriate and sends a clear message to all communities that there is no place in our nation for sorcery accusation-related violence. Police are focused on those who commit violence in their villages and those who exploit false cultural beliefs to justify such acts.

“The so-called glassmen and glassmeris, who promote depravity and violence in pursuit of greed, are very much the target of police investigators. My direction to all police officers is to continue working diligently to arrest those responsible for sorcery accusation-related violence.

“The entire judicial system—from police investigations to prosecution and the Courts—is enforcing significant penalties, as we have seen. I fully support this approach to rid our communities of this vile crime.

“This Government has directed me to build a police force that cracks down on perpetrators of evil while protecting the good and law-abiding citizens. Upholding these objectives and bringing violent offenders to justice is the duty of all police under my command.”