Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Cop with cannibal tastes kills ‘willing victim’
DRESDEN: A German police officer who has expressed fantasies about cannibalism killed and mutilated a man he met on the internet, according to prosecutors.
The officer, who was arrested on suspicion of murder and is currently being held in custody in the eastern state of Saxony, has admitted to committing the crime on November 4, shortly after making online contact with his 59-year-old victim.
Though there is no concrete evidence to suggest the officer engaged in cannibalism in this instance, prosecutors told journalists that he has repeatedly expressed the desire to eat other human beings since adolescence.
The 55-year-old suspect, who worked as a police officer at Saxony’s Office of Criminal Investigation, is said to have delivered a fatal knife wound to the victim’s throat, subsequently taking up to five hours to cut his victim’s body into pieces.
The 59- year- old victim is said to have entered into the agreement willingly. Prosecutors told journalists that the victim had been searching the internet for like-minded people who wanted to live out violent fantasies including torture that included sex.
Despite admitting to the murder, the police officer denied the crime had been sexually motivated.
A special committee is investigating the incident. – Sapa-DPA
New anti-corruption measures in China
BEIJING: China is to launch a pilot programme to make new officials disclose assets as part of an anti-graft campaign, the Communist Party said. It said “leading cadres” who are newly appointed or promoted will have to disclose their assets, the occupations of spouses and children and international travel records.
Lebanese nationals cleared in Nigeria
ABUJA: Three Lebanese nationals suspected of being Hezbollah members were cleared of terrorism charges in Nigeria yesterday but one of the accused was convicted of a weapons offence and jailed for life. The three were arrested in May after the discovery of an arms cache in a residence in the northern Nigerian city of Kano.
Protesters’ goggles ‘weapons’ – court
ISTANBUL: A Turkish court has ruled that protective equipment used by protesters during June’s mass street rallies were “weapons”. Protesters wore homemade gear such as masks made of plastic bottles, motorbike helmets and swimming goggles. A court ruled on Thursday such items could be classified as weapons in a case against 23 protesters.
Russian dancer faces jail over acid attack
MOSCOW: Russian prosecutors have sought a nine-year jail sentence for Bolshoi ballet dancer Pavel Dmitrichenko over his alleged mastermind role in an acid attack that nearly blinded the artistic director. They also want a 10year sentence for his suspected associate Yury Zarutsky for flinging the sulphuric acid in Sergei Filin’s face in January.
Marching orders for France’s CAR envoy
PARIS: France has replaced its ambassador in the Central African Republic, as it prepares to send more troops to help restore order in the country. “We have proposed the naming of a new ambassador to the Central African authorities,” foreign ministry spokesman Romain Nadal said. It was unclear why Serge Mucetti was being replaced.
Taipei to approach China on air zone
TAIPEI: The Taiwanese government said it was making representations to China after Beijing declared an air zone in the East China Sea that has angered allies, including the US and Japan. Taiwan’s administration, which has been pushing for detente with Beijing since 2008, launched the belated protest following mounting pressure from the opposition.