By Bethanie Harriman – EM TV, Lae
A man in his late fifties was bound and tortured at Lae’s Nawae block by persons accusing him for allegedly killing a woman using sorcery.
According to the victim, a group of men who are relatives of the deceased woman, had gone to his residence and told him to follow them to a meeting as there were complaints of him practising sorcery that “needed to be sorted out”.
The men lured Koli with talks of a meeting, to where they live. Unsuspecting of their intentions, Koli followed and was subjected to horrendous treatment by the men for several days.
He was first tied up then beaten the men; his skull was fractured as a result of their assaults, ribs broken and teeth knocked out.
He said that he had asked them why they were beating him and told them to go bring proof that he used sorcery to kill the woman.
John Koli, maintaining his innocence, said that he could have been killed by the deceased’s relatives, for something that could not be proven. He says he was lucky, but the trauma of nearly being killed will haunt him for the remaining years of his life.
Talitha John, John’s granddaughter was with the group that went to get her grandfather back. They are both still shaken by the ordeal.
If he were killed he would leave her behind without a guardian.The attempt on Koli’s life has stunned the community.
Only six months ago was Ramu’s mass sorcery killing, children were killed and a man was decapitated.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=lUG6_Kw9zLU%3Ffeature%3Doembed%26wmode%3Dopaque%26showinfo%3D0%26showsearch%3D0%26rel%3D0
