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)