Four victims of suspected sorcery were rescued and 15 suspects arrested in remote Karimui, Simbu, on Friday, July 17, through a coordinated effort.
GT Bustin, President of PNG Tribal Foundation, pledged to support the four victims in their fight for justice and said the successful rescue operation was made possible through a coordinated effort between the Tribal Foundation and Manalos Aviation Chief Executive Officer and Chief Pilot, Jurgen Ruh, who was approached for assistance to rescue the victims.
“We need the air force for this SARV case. Can you please see if the police helicopter is available?” Mr Bustin asked.
The request set in motion a rapid collaboration between Manalos Aviation, Tribal Foundation, and the Royal PNG Constabulary. Mr Ruh contacted Police Commissioner David Manning, who approved the mission.
Sergeant Gideon Lumpia, attached to Kundiawa Police Station, who has worked with the organisation on several sorcery cases, reached out seeking help to fund his men from Kundiawa to rescue the victims and make arrests of the 15 identified suspects, and the organisation acted swiftly in coordinating the operation.
“All 15 suspects involved in sorcery accusation-related violence have been arrested and detained at the Kundiawa Police cell block, and I want to take this time to honour and express my heartfelt gratitude for PNG Tribal Foundation’s tireless effort in getting the charter arrangement done and providing police air transport through the helicopter, and to Manalos Aviation, through which we successfully rescued the victims and arrested all suspects taken to Kundiawa,” Sgt Lumpia said.
The victims, admitted at Kundiawa General Hospital, were visited by Tribal Foundation staff over the weekend and will be supported in any way needed going forward.
Mr Bustin said the partnership between Manalos Aviation and the Tribal Foundation dates back to 2022, when the two organisations worked together to transport a critically ill young girl from Morobe Province for life-saving specialist surgery.