Schizophrenic man dies at healer's treatment

Schizophrenic man dies at healer's treatment

JAKARTA (JP): Police said over the weekend that they have
arrested a traditional healer following the death of a male
schizophrenic under his treatment.

"Kemayoran district police have picked up the healer for
questioning," said Lt. Col. Latief, the spokesman for City
Police.

Latief identified the traditional healer as Sutiyono Andreas,
45, a resident of Jl. Swadaya, Kemayoran, Central Jakarta.

The schizophrenic man, identified as Samsi, 44, a resident of
Jl. Enggano, Kempor subdistrict, Tangerang, died Thursday evening
at Andreas' house from self-torture during treatment by the noted
healer.

Samsi had once reportedly been sent by his family to the
Grogol mental asylum in West Jakarta for his malady and even
received treatment from other traditional healers in the city
before he was taken by his family to Andreas three months ago.

Samsi's wife, Pujiati, and another relative took him for the
second time to the healer at around 7 p.m. on Wednesday.

As part of the treatment Andreas first bathed Samsi to make
him feel comfortable for the next, main treatment.

However, one hour after Samsi became hysterical and was only
calmed after his relatives, along with the healer, immobilized
him by binding him with a cloth-made belt.

Feeling relieved, his relatives went home, leaving him with
the healer.

Andreas, feeling Samsi had recuperated, untied him the
following day but Samsi became hysterical again. He repeatedly
beat his own body with his hands and banged his head against the
wall. The healer was unable to restrain Samsi without the help of
others.

After the self inflicted torture Samsi wearied and fainted.

Andreas, who was initially convinced Samsi had only fallen
asleep and would regain consciousness, was surprised to discover
his patient had died at around 8 p.m.

Samsi's family, after learning of his death from the healer,
took the deceased to the Cipto Mangunkusumo General hospital's
morgue for autopsy.

"Police are still investigating whether Samsi's injuries were
self inflicted or not," said Latief. (jsk)