Cannibal admits to taste for humans

PURBALINGGA, Central Java: A 31-year old man has admitted to eating at least three human corpses for supernatural purposes, police in the Central Java town of Purbalingga said Saturday.

Sumanto was arrested last week for allegedly digging up the body of Rina, 80, and eating it.

Fears are high that at least three other people who disappeared from Purbalingga last year had fallen victim to Sumanto's taste for human flesh.

Asides from Rina, Sumanto told police he killed and ate two men when he lived in Lampung province.

Sumanto allegedly admitted that he and a friend from North Sumatra had eaten the raw flesh of a man who had attempted to rob him. The second man, who also attempted to rob him, met the same fate.

The second man's penis was also dried and used as an amulet, a detective said, referring to Sumanto's confession.

Sumanto claimed his target was to eat at least seven human bodies to gain supernatural powers and ensure a peaceful soul.

He also admitted to eating cats, dogs, rats and snakes. --JP