Alleged 'Kolor Hijau' rapist seen in Ciputat
Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
In what appears to be a case of serial rape, the "Kolor Hijau" (green underwear) alleged rapist extended his area of terror from Bekasi, East Jakarta and Depok to Ciputat, South Jakarta.
Early on Friday, the suspected rapist injured Rosadah, 47, a mother of eight, after he tried to rape her while she was sleeping with her husband in the bedroom of their house in Ciputat.
The victim reported to Ciputat Police that she felt someone was on top of her but later realized that the man, who was wearing only green underwear, was not her husband.
"Rosadah filed a report this morning in which she said the man did not rape her. We have sent the evidence to be examined at the forensic laboratory at the National Police Headquarters. We'll wait for the results to determine exactly what happened," said Ciputat Police chief Adj. Comr. Zulfan, adding that the evidence included Rosadah's torn clothes.
"She informed us that the suspect tore her clothes but we could not believe it because she claimed she was unconscious and that the room was dark. How was she able to describe what happened?" Zulfan remarked.
Rosadah claimed the man fled when she screamed before fainting.
Fear of a serial rapist has haunted many people for some months now. They believe the man is involved in a ritual that requires him to rape 100 women to complete his black magic but he has always managed to escape from angry residents.
The man was last reported to have raped a woman in Bekasi on Jan. 14.
To avoid his attack, the scared residents equipped themselves and their houses with yellow bamboo sticks and other plants believed to be able to counter magic power.
People have demanded the police arrest the man, but, as Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Prasetyo said, "police can rely only on evidence and facts, regardless of whatever rumors may exist".
"We don't want the rumor to be used as justification to beat up and kill people," he said, referring to the fact that some passersby were beaten by a mob who thought they might be the "Kolor Hijau' criminal.