Execute sodomizer, says Lopa

UJUNGPANDANG (JP): Secretary-General of the National Commission on Human Rights Baharuddin Lopa expressed his opinion that Siswanto, the alleged sodomizer and murderer of 10 boys, deserves the death penalty.

"I personally agree because the suspect is very sadistic. I believe it is the first case of sodomy and murder in the country," Lopa said when speaking at a seminar on children's rights at Hotel Kenari here yesterday.

"It is the court which has the legal right to sentence Siswanto. But, the penalty should in the future prevent other people from committing a similar crime," Lopa emphasized.

He said crimes against children are on the rise.

Meanwhile, Central Jakarta Police Chief. Lt. Col. Abubakar Nataprawira said that Siswanto is a healthy man with good memory.

In the reconstruction conducted early yesterday morning, the suspect recognized the exact location of a tree in an area close to the defunct Kemayoran airport, Central Jakarta, where he admitted to killing four of the victims.

"The suspect has a strong memory. It is almost impossible that he was insane when he killed the boys. So, he can't escape the court," Abubakar said.

Siswanto's lawyer, Najib Khan, who accompanied him, acknowledged that Siswanto was not under pressure during the reconstruction.

Siswanto was arrested on July 27 at a railway station in Tegal, Central Java.

During the preliminary investigation, he admitted to having killed 10 boys. Four in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta, four in Pondok Kopi, East Jakarta, and the remaining two boys in Kroya and Purwokerto, Central Java.

Central Jakarta Police precinct has received a report from Purwokerto police precinct saying that in 1993 they found the body of a boy who died in a similar way to that of Siswanto's victims.

The suspect also admitted to sodomizing eight of the victims on the second floor of the Senen market in Central Jakarta after he took them to Dunia Fantasi in Ancol, North Jakarta. (jun/20)