PNG police seek suspect in sorcery-related murder

4:26 pm on 13 October 2016
Hela province, Papua New Guinea.

Hela province, Papua New Guinea. Photo: RNZ / Johnny Blades

Police in the remote Papua New Guinea province of Jiwaka are appealing for public help to bring in the suspect in a sorcery-related killing.

Reports emerging from the Highlands province say a Lutheran Pastor in the remote village of Koip in middle Jimi was attacked and buried alive after being alleged to have used sorcery.

Police in the Jiwaka town of Banz indicated that a criminal report had been filed over the death and that they had names of suspects, including a lead perpetrator.

However with poor road links in the area, police had been restricted in their ability to detain the main suspect who is believed to have been waging a campaign of terror in the region.

Police said they needed the help of local communities to locate and capture the suspect.