Murder suspect flees

By JOHNNY POIYA
and JACOB POK

MOUNT Hagen police are still working around the clock to have those responsible for the brutal murder of a young mother suspected of sorcery to face the law.
New Western Highlands provincial police commander Martin Lakari, who takes office by the end of this week, said arresting those behind this barbaric act would be his first assignment, indicating a major police operation through the compounds of Warakum to have those responsible apprehended, charged and brought to justice.
“Sorcery killing has taken a new twist and has now become a new trend of crime, with people being openly killed through brutal means in the eyes of public and inside towns and cities,” Mr Lakari said.
 
The new police boss stressed that those responsible must be severly dealt with.
The victim has been identified as Kepari Leniata, 20, from Wabag in Enga province.
She was tortured, stripped and burnt to death in broad daylight near a rubbish dump at the main Warakum junction last Wednesday morning in front of a large crowd by suspects from Enga province.
Two other elderly women from Gumine in the Chimbu Province were also tortured but were not killed.
 
Prime Minister Peter O’Neill, Police Commissioner Tom Kulunga, and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, were among many others who have condemned the horrific murder and called for those responsible to be arrested and charged. The Post-Courier understands that the police hierarchy from their Konedobu HQ in Port Moresby has pressured Mount Hagen police to have those responsible arrested quickly and charged.
However, investigation in the Highlands city was prolonged due to witnesses not cooperating to help identify the suspects.
Earlier, police reports claimed that the prime suspect was the husband of the victim, who is believed to have fled to nearby Enga province.
But PPC Lakari could not confirm that yesterday, saying he was yet to be briefed on the progress of the investigation and referred the Post-Courier to Highlands Divisional Commander Teddy Tei.
Attempts to get comments from Mr Tei last night were unsuccessful.