Police cautious in probe of cult members' killings

Police cautious in probe of cult members' killings

DEPOK (JP): After a week-long investigation into the killing
of three alleged cult members of Haqmalyah sect in Sukmajaya
village, Bojonggede subdistrict, Depok Police are struggling to
uncover leads in the case.

Chief of Depok Police precinct, Lt. Col. Bambang Widaryatmo,
said police were experiencing difficulties in their work on the
murder case, as it was a highly sensitive case. He said the
investigation involved numerous residents, many of whom had
strongly opposed the sect's existence.

"We must be careful. We don't want to stir up a hornet's nest
when we arrest people," Bambang told The Jakarta Post on Friday
from his office.

Bambang said the killers would be indicted with article 170 of
the Criminal Code, which carries a maximum sentence of 12 years
in jail.

"We will also ask the Depok Prosecutor's Office to determine
whether the sect will still be permitted to run its activities in
the future."

Hundreds of residents from Sukmajaya village attacked on
Friday last week a house belonging to sect member Saiman Koto.
Three alleged cult members were killed and two others were
severely wounded.

The sect, whose headquarters is located in the West Java town
of Garut, has 40 members. A police detective close to the
investigation said the sect was led by an individual named Toto
Muthalib.

In their investigations, police have summoned 11 witnesses,
including the wives of the victims, and Hutomi Syarifudin alias
Prabu Gustomi alias Tommy, head of the sect in the Bogor.

"We still need to have witnesses who can identify who the
provocateurs and the murderers were," the police detective, who
asked for anonymity, told the Post.

He said police said before the killings tension was at high
levels in the village. He claimed that many of the residents
disliked the teachings introduced by the sect, as the teachings
allowed permitted cohabitation among sect members.

"The residents have long worried that their village's good
image will be tarnished by the sect presence.

"The way they (sect members) performed the rituals was
considered a deviation from religious ones," he said.

He said police were present during the killing, but were
unable to prevent the murders of the three cult members because
the residents overwhelmed the police.

The three people who died in the attack were identified as
Syarif, 45, Darmawan Yapati, 27, and Herry Bana, 30. Two other
cult members -- Saiman and Anwarudin -- managed to escape their
attackers, but sustained severe wounds.

The detective said the attack occurred after Prabu Gustomi's
doomsday prediction for 9 a.m, Sept. 9, 1999, did not eventuate.

In an effort to save face among the sect members, Gustomi then
ordered four sect members to explain to other members the reason
for the mistake.

The detective said when the four -- Achmad Syarif, Darmawan,
Herry Bana and Anwar Rudini -- visited Saiman's house, hundreds
of residents gathered and assaulted the members with stones,
bricks and wooden stick.

As of Friday, the evidence was still being held at the police
precinct. Congealed blood was evident on the surface of some of
the hastily assembled weapons.

The police source quoted Tommy as saying the cult had aimed at
bringing its members closer to its God. He said that to be
accepted as members, people had to fast for seven days.

"To secure their loyalty to the sect, candidates are also
required to give an oath before the sect leaders.

"The last requirement is that the sect members must not reveal
the rituals to other people," the detective said.

He said that Tommy acknowledged that he announced the date of
Sept. 9 as marking the end of the world after hearing rumors that
swept the surrounding community. (asa)