Shaman admits poisoning seven clients seeking fortune

Shaman admits poisoning seven clients seeking fortune

Nana Rukmana, The Jakarta Post/Cirebon

Police disclosed on Wednesday that the police had discovered the
motive behind the deaths of seven people seeking good fortune via
supernatural means in Tegal regency.

Iskandar, a shaman and the main suspect in the case, has
confessed to police investigators that he put poison in the
'magic potions' he gave his victims, who were his clients,

According to Iskandar, 42, he had decided to kill the clients
as he was fed up with their attitude. He claimed that the clients
had repeatedly reminded him of his earlier promises that he could
make them very rich. The clients also demanded that he return
their money, amounting to Rp 10 million (US$1,111) per client.
The shaman had earlier requested the money from his clients,
saying that he would return Rp 1 billion each to them.

The murders began when nine clients, from various parts of
Tegal regency, Central Java, met the shaman on the evening of
last Wednesday in Kupu subdistrict, where Rofi'i, a client,
lives. During the meeting, the nine were requested by Iskandar to
participate in various rituals and to drink the potion, which had
been "blessed" by him.

The magic potion had to be consumed on Thursday night (a
sacred time for the Javanese), said Iskandar.

The clients drank the beverage separately in their homes a day
later, and five of them, including a husband and wife, died as a
result. Two others, Suwirjo, 53 and Ning Tati, 50, another
husband-and-wife couple, were found dead later on Thursday near
the local cemetery in Kejambon subdistrict, Tegal regency. Two
others survived the poisoning attempt after being admitted to the
local hospital.