Section 170Part 5 — Offences Injurious to the Public in General
Obeah
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170. (1) For the purposes of this section and section 158(c) a person practising or dealing in “obeah” or “myalism” means a person who, to effect any fraudulent or unlawful purpose, or for gain, or for the purpose of frightening any person, uses, or pretends to use occult means, or pretends to possess any supernatural power or knowledge, and “instrument of obeah or myalism” means anything commonly used in the practice of obeah or myalism.
A person who —
practises or deals in obeah or myalism;
for any fraudulent or unlawful purpose consults any person practising or reputed to be practising or who has been convicted of any offence under the law relating to obeah or myalism; or
for the purpose of effecting any object or of bringing about any event, by the use of occult means or any supernatural power or knowledge, consults any person practising or reputed to be practising obeah or myalism or any person who has been convicted of an offence relating to obeah or myalism, or any person pretending to possess supernatural powers and agrees to reward the person so consulted, commits an offence.
In charging any person with being a person practising obeah it shall be sufficient in the charge to state that that person is a person practising obeah.
A person who —
possesses, composes, prints, imports, sells or distributes any printed matter which is calculated to promote the superstition of obeah; or Section 171 Penal Code (2026 Revision) Page 74 Revised as at 31st December, 2025 c
possesses, imports, sells or distributes anything which is calculated to promote the superstition of obeah, commits an offence.
When it is made to appear upon oath that there is reasonable cause to suspect that any person is in possession of any instrument of obeah or myalism any Justice may, by warrant, authorise any constable at any time within one month of the issue of such warrant to enter and search any place and to seize any such instrument there found for the purpose of producing it in evidence in any court where it may be required.
A person who is found in possession of any instrument of obeah or myalism shall be deemed, unless the contrary is proved, to be a person practising obeah at the time of such possession. E - Defamation