HK fortune teller specialising in witchcraft with animal sacrifices arrested.
A 19-year-old design school student who called himself a fortune teller specialising in performing witchcraft was arrested in Hong Kong last Wednesday (11 August) for allegedly slaughtering animals such as rabbits, mice and frogs as “sacrificial offerings” in rituals. He appeared at the West Kowloon Magistracy on Friday (13 August) on charges of animal cruelty and was remanded in custody.
The police received reports that a social media account shared photos of dismembered animals, claiming that a fortune teller could perform witchcraft involving animal sacrifice to grant clients their wishes. According to sources, clients had each paid up to HK$20,000 for such services.
The police confiscated from the man a dagger and boxes containing a rabbit and five mice, along with bottles of rum, sesame oil and almond oil, materials believed to be used for the ceremonies.
The animals did not seem to have any injuries, and were handed over to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals for further inspection.
The Prosecution asked for a two month adjournment to allow time for police investigation. Officers would examine the Defendant’s mobile phones and bank transaction records, and to make inquiries into where the animals came from.
The man was arrested on suspicion of cruelty to an animal. Section 3(1)(a) of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Ordinance (Cap. 169) prohibits and punishes cruelty to all animals, including mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish or any other vertebrate or invertebrate animals, whether they are living in the wild or are tame. The offence carries a maximum penalty of three years imprisonment or a fine of up to HK$200,000. However, for a prosecution for cruelty to succeed under section 3(1)(a), unnecessary suffering must have been caused to an animal, which is a high evidentiary threshold.
The police are also investigating whether anyone had incited the suspect to commit animal cruelty, such as where clients have offered money to prompt the suspect to “sacrifice” the animals.
Photo courtesy of Dickson Lee, SCMP
Courtesy of Ruby Tam
Main Source: SCMP