KAPIT: Police arrested a shaman for allegedly raping a 15-year-old girl who had requested treatment to cast out unwanted spirits.
District police chief DSP Freddy Bian confirmed that the incident happened around 6pm on Dec 24.
The girl’s mother brought her to seek counsel from a shaman as she believed her daughter was disturbed by evil spirits.
“The girl, her mother and two of her mother’s friends, were taken to a tributary of Batang Baleh in the suspect’s longboat.
“On arrival, the suspect then told the mother that he had to bring the girl upstream for an exorcism ceremony.
“There, the suspect then allegedly raped the girl and warned her not to tell anyone or else the illness could not be cured,” said Freddy.
He added that on Dec 25 around 2am, as they were heading home, the girl told her mother she had been raped.
The mother lodged a police report around 1.30pm the next day (Dec 26) and the suspect was arrested by police on the same day.
“The victim was brought to Sibu Hospital for a medical observation.
“The suspect has been remanded until Jan 2 next year in the Kapit police lock-up to facilitate investigations under Section 376 of the Penal Code for rape,” Freddy said.
