Man arrested for animal cruelty over ‘voodoo service’

Police on Thursday arrested a man for allegedly abusing and killing rabbits and mice to perform “voodoo rituals”.

Officers said the 19-year-old was arrested on suspicion of cruelty to animals, after they received reports about a social media account which claimed a fortune teller could perform voodoo tricks to help make clients’ “dreams come true”, for a charge of up to HK$20,000.

The social media account also showed pictures of dissected animals and a dagger that appeared to be stained with blood, the police said.

When the suspect was arrested, a rabbit and five white mice were found in his backpack, police said.

The animals did not seem to be injured, and were handed over to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals for examination.

The offence of animal cruelty carries a maximum sentence of up to three years in jail and a fine of HK$200,000.

Inspector Chen Wenjing said officers are investigating whether anyone had “incited the suspect to commit animal cruelty”, adding further arrests may be made.