Bogor cult members killed after Sept. 9, 1999, dispute

BOGOR (JP): Three cult members were beaten to death and two others severely wounded by fellow cultists enraged after Sept. 9 doomsday predictions proved untrue.

The incident in Sukmajaya village, Bojong Gede district, on Friday stunned local police, who were clearly unprepared for a case of cult members turning on one another.

The scene took place at the house of Saiman Koto, who, according to cult members and villagers, was the local leader of the cult, which believed the world would end at 9 a.m. on Sept. 9.

Like many other cults across the country, members were told to prepare for the end of the world. Followers were told to stock up on items such as canned food and blankets in order to survive doomsday.

In a small town in Banyuwangi, East Java, for example, hundreds of cult members reportedly sold all their property to buy a piece of land in the nearby mountains, where they believed they would escape the catastrophe.

The village chief of Sukmajaya, Saadi Arsam, said 17 cult members sold their personal belongings before locking themselves up in their homes, as instructed by Saiman.

"They did this for nine days and night nights prior to the predicted doomsday," Saadi said on Sunday.

"The people even covered every crack in their houses to keep out all light," he said.

While waiting for the end to come, the cultists were seen performing rituals and singing songs about Prabu Siliwangi, the ancient king of West Java who was believed to have strong psychic powers, Saadi said.

When nothing had happened by Friday afternoon, the cult members emerged from their homes intent on teaching their leader a lesson.

With the support of local residents, the cultists, led by Kasim, attacked Saiman's house at 6:30 p.m. on Friday.

At the time of the attack, Saiman was visiting with four other men, who were alleged to also be members of the cult.

"The (cult) members were really mad," Saadi said.

The three people who died in the attack were identified as Syarif, 45, Darmawan Yapati, alias Wawan, 27, and Herry Bana, 30.

Saiman and Anwarudin, the other man at Saiman's home, managed to escape with serious wounds.

Anwarudin's sister-in-law Akim said: "My brother-in-law is not a cult member like many have accused him of being ... he was there (at Saiman's house) only to visit him."

Nuryati, the wife of Syarif, also denied her husband's involvement in the cult.

The case is being investigated by the police. (21/edt)