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)