Hunt for three murder suspects in Solomon Islands linked to sorcery

Updated March 16, 2009 16:19:36

In Solomon Islands, local police as well as Regional Assistance Mission police and military personnel are involved in the hunt for three murder suspects in Malaita Province accused of ritually stabbing to death a pagan priest in East Kwaio three weeks ago for allegedly practicing sorcery. Acting Police Commissioner, Peter Marshall says the suspects have fled into the mountains, where there's very difficult terrain. But Mr Marshall says he's confident the three men will be captured with the assistance of the East Malaita communities.


Presenter Sam Seke

Speaker Solomon Islands Acting Police Commissioner Peter Marshall

MARSHALL: About three weeks ago a man aged about 70 or thereabouts who was a pagan priest as I understand it in the East Kwaio area of Malaita was stabbed a number of times and he has suffered fatal wounds, which obviously resulted in his death. Now there has been an investigation in relation to three known suspects. It was a ritual killing if you like, and participating police force members are assisting the Royal Solomon Islands police force in terms of trying to locate those three individuals. And we've had a lot of assistance from the villagers in East Kwaio and Kwara'ae and basically we have yet to apprehend those individuals.

SEKE: Can you tell us a little bit more about the killing itself?

MARSHALL: Well as I understand it there was concern about his activities and there was a suspicion about his activities in the context of the pagan beliefs shall we say, and he was stabbed a couple of times. There's been a lot of threats amongst the villagers in terms of payback and we've been very much involved with trying to keep the peace at the same time apprehend the three suspects.

SEKE: And what can you tell us about what you know of the three suspects?

MARSHALL: They come from a particular village and their names are well known to the local villagers, and we haven't put their identity out in the public arena so to speak, but they know that we're after them and the villagers are assisting us as best they can at the moment. But it's a bit of a manhunt, very difficult country, very difficult terrain and we actually also are using RAMSI military to assist. But it's like so many of these offences that occur in the other provinces and if suspects decide to flee into the mountains there are some practical issues for police. But we expect to get a good result with the cooperation of the villagers.

SEKE: East Kwaio has been a particularly difficult region of Malaita to catch criminals and murderers as well because of what I might say really strong tradition and custom practices. How do you plan to get around this?

MARSHALL: The villagers of East Kwaio and Kwara'ae have actually pledged assistance to the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force, and I think they will be the key to the success or otherwise of this manhunt.

SEKE: How many people are there that are still wanted for murder, still at large?

MARSHALL: Yes certainly in the last 12 months there are about three or four that I can think of. Having said that equal number of other people who have been wanted for serious crimes have either been apprehended or have actually given themselves up with the cooperation of the villagers. But certainly there are a number of others who need to be apprehended.

SEKE: The Health Minister and MP for East Guadalcanal Johnson Koli, he was said to have been attacked by one of his constituents outside Parliament House. Are you investigating this matter?

MARSHALL: Yes the individual concerned has been charged. That occurred on Friday last week, as I understand it the constituent was a little upset with the minister for whatever reason. It's the type of assault that could happen on the street anywhere at all. It's unfortunate that it happened in the grounds of Parliament House and the public have access to that.

SEKE: But is security a concern for members of parliament?

MARSHALL: No it hasn't been a concern in the past, obviously we look at each case on a case by case basis. This was a one-off situation. I haven't heard of it happening in the time that I've been in the Solomon Islands over the last two years.