Medan Police stop digging

MEDAN: Police say they have suspended their search in Sei Semayang for the bodies of women which they suspect were killed by a shaman in Medan, North Sumatra.

The head of Medan Police information office, Lt. Col. Amrim Karim, said Saturday police were trying to locate other probable sites.

"If we dig all over the place it would be a waste of time, energy and money," Amrim said.

Sixteen skeletons have been dug up in Sei Semayang, Deli Serdang, since a man reported his daughter missing. Most of the remains have been identified as young women. The main suspect, a shaman called Achmad Suradji, alias Datuk, has been detained with two of his three wives.

Hundreds of people have flocked to the area near Datuk's home.

The Medan-based Legal Aid Office has set up a team to legally represent Datuk. Datuk himself has not requested legal representation. (anr/21)