AN INNOCENT CHILD RAISED IN A PRISON CAMP BY HIS MOTHER

BOY IN PRISON FOR MORE THAN 2 YEARS OVER SORCERY

January 3, 2023The NationalMain Stories

By AILEEN KWARAGU

A FOUR-YEAR-OLD boy has been living with his mother in the Bomana Prison since 2020.

Martin, from Kikori’s Ero in Gulf, has been living with his mother, Saitava Steven, after she was arrested for sorcery-related violence (SARV) and accusation following the death of a woman in her Ero village.

“My whole family was suspected when the woman died because of a little argument we had with her prior to her death,” Steven said.

“My husband and his father, brother and sister and I were arrested by Kerema police in June after relatives of the deceased reported the matter to police.

“At the end of 2020, we were transferred to Bomana and have been here. Since we did not have any family in Port Moresby, we decided to keep Martin with us.”

Steven said since they were locked up, they did not attend any court until November but the matter was moved to this year.

She is appealing to Kikori MP Soroi Eoe to look into their plight and help them since they had been waiting for court proceedings for more than two years.

“My concern is little Martin who is innocent but under these circumstances, he has been living with us in prison,” she said.

“He has the right to an education and his freedom, but how can he be left unattended.”

Eoe said he would work with the jail security manager Inspector Joe Yamason to get all details of Steven’s family and bring it up with Internal Security Minister Peter Tsamalili Jr.

“Such SARV cases are unnecessary and such practices need to stop,” he said.

“We will bring the matter to the respective authorities and ensure that processes are followed to get you all out as soon as possible.”

Steven said her concern was the health and welfare of little Martin, and for the system to fast-track their case as it had been pending for more than two years.