Cannibal's identity remains mystery

Multa Fidrus, The Jakarta Post, Tangerang

Tangerang hospital morgue officials finally buried the body of a mysterious cannibal in Tanjung Legok public cometary in Karawaci, Tangerang, on Saturday, two weeks after he was shot dead by the police.

Until today, Luri Hasanuddin's true identity remains a mystery as none of his family came forward to claim his body.

His horrifying behavior had caused terror among residents of the Perumnas I housing complex in Jatiuwung.

Luri, who was about 45 years old, had previously been caught red-handed killing and eating the residents' pets before he was finally shot by the police for murdering a mosque attendant.

Sukanta, a local figure, said Luri first came to the area last November. A thin man with curly hair, slim mustache and about 165 centimeters in height, he later became known as Ruli Hasanudin, and claimed that he hailed from a village in Kresek district, Tangerang.

"Even though he had no identity card, we believed him and allowed him to stay in a room in the mosque," Sukanta said.

Another local said that once Luri had dressed up in muukenah (woman's garments for praying) and sat among housewives who were reading the Koran. "The women were very surprised and ran after seeing him," he said.

Some people regarded Luri as being deranged as he was frequently found talking to himself.

Sukanta alleged that Luri became distressed after he failed to reproduce the black magic he had been reading about in books.

"He liked to discuss religious matters but he always referred to black magic and deviated from religious teachings," said Sukanta, who was the first to suspect that Luri had killed Herry.

During his first three months in the area, Luri appeared normal, Sukanta said. He later became strange and aroused fear in local residents as he always carried a machete.

The residents' fears were not without reason. Sukanta, who lives near the Ar Royan mosque, was awake early on Saturday, February 16, when he heard someone groaning in pain in the mosque. He then saw Herry, who was in his death throes with his head almost severed from his torso and his left arm missing.

"I believed that it must have been Luri who did it. I then peeped into his room and he was inside," he said. "He was eating a human arm."

Residents and police officers then surrounded the place. The police shot him in the chest three times when he refused to surrender. He died instantly.

As Luri's body was being removed from the room, police found several of Herry's fingers in his pocket. Luri's body was then sent to the morgue.

Herry was buried by his family in Tangerang public cemetery on Sunday.