11 arraigned in Juba court for practicing witchcraft

Eleven suspects were yesterday arraigned in Kator court in Juba presided over by Judge Peter Mustafa Kajuri on charges of practicing witchcraft.

Eleven suspects were yesterday arraigned in the Kator court presided over by Judge Peter Mustafa Kajuri on charges of practicing witchcraft in Juba. 

The suspects, comprising ten women and one man, were arrested on Saturday in the Gudele residential area of Juba City during the search carried out by the Juba City Mayor Kalisto Lado and his administrative and security officers.

Speaking during the court hearing on Tuesday, The Munuki executive director, Simon Wani, said the accused were found practicing sorcery and other immoral activities which are misleading the community.

“We arrested ten women and one man who was the agent but the owner of the house ran away,” Wani said.

He said the evidence seized consisted of smoking pipes and several slaughtered pigeons among other materials.

“We found smoking pipes, slaughtered pigeons, pictures of people poked with needles, '' Wani told the court. “Other (pictures) were burned and some were covered in blood.”

He added that they also found raw meat and a cat tied at the entrance of a room and that the evidence was sufficient to charge the suspects with the crime of practicing witchcraft.

The court adjourned the hearing to Wednesday when eyewitnesses are expected to testify.