24 named suspects in killings

24 named suspects in killings

BANDUNG: West Java Police chief Insp. Gen. Yun Mulyana said on
Wednesday the police had completed questioning 24 suspects in
connection with the murder of several men accused of practicing
black magic recently.

The suspects are expected to go on trial soon at the Cianjur
District Court.

"The legal proceedings will hopefully put an end to the shaman
killings in the area, which have claimed 20 fatalities," Yun
said.

He identified the 24 people as provocateurs, executors and
those responsible for the selection of the victims.

Yun said their motives were mainly revenge, rivalry and
inheritance, while so far there was no direct evidence linking
the victims to black magic.

He added that two special teams, from the Cianjur Police and
the Bogor City Police, had been deployed to the area to intensify
security while handling the case.

He dismissed reports that a tracker had seen 20 bodies hanging
from trees in Gunung Sawo, Tanggeung district, some 80 kilometers
south of Cianjur.

Meanwhile, Cianjur Police chief Supt. Mamat R. Bekti told
reporters on Wednesday that the police had checked the Gunung
Sawo area with Heru, a witness who had apparently mistaken bats
for human bodies. (25/lup)