Patrick Herminie, the main opposition leader in Seychelles, has been charged with witchcraft, a move the politician called a “political show” as dozens of police officers raided his party’s office.

According to the BBC, Mr Herminie was arraigned alongside seven other co-defendants in a Seychelles court on Monday before the magistrate subsequently granted them $2,100 bail.

Police said the case is connected with the discovery of two bodies exhumed from a cemetery on the island of Mahé. Mr Herminie and his co-defendants are now facing multiple charges, including possession of items intended for use in witchcraft.

They are also charged with conspiracy to perform witchcraft and procuring services related to witchcraft.

Prosecutors claimed Mr Herminie’s name was mentioned in a chat between a Seychellois national and the Tanzanian suspect, who will remain in custody until the next court appearance in November.

Fetish items, which include stones, black wooden artefacts, small bottles of brownish liquid, a collection of powders, and documents with strange language and “demonic and satanic” symbols, were reportedly found in possession of the Tanzanian.

Mr Herminie, who is expected to contest in the 2025 presidential election under the umbrella of the United Seychelles Party (USP), has refuted the witchcraft allegations and claimed he does not believe in it.

“In Seychelles’ history, there has never been, until now, a political party leader arrested for superstition and witchcraft. This is something new, and it is shameful for Seychelles,” he was quoted as saying.

Between 2007 and 2016, Mr Herminie served as the speaker of Seychelles’ parliament. He concluded that the arraignment is part of incumbent President Wavel Ramkalawan’s moves to silence opposition ahead of the presidential election.