Shaman held for killing 16 women

MEDAN (JP): A shaman and two of his three wives have been arrested by police in Medan, North Sumatra, in connection with the death of at least 16 women, police sources said.

The shaman, Ahmad Sumadji alias Nasib Kelewang alias Datuk, 53, who was arrested Wednesday, told police he wanted to kill 70 women, an officer said yesterday.

The officer, who asked not to be named, said police think he killed about 40 women. But only 16 bodies have been found.

"The killing was not discovered for a long time because the victims were mostly prostitutes and their relatives did not pay attention to their whereabouts," the officer said.

Datuk was arrested after the father of one of his alleged victims told police his daughter disappeared after going to his house for treatment, the policeman said.

"Two of his wives were arrested soon after the shaman was taken to the precinct. They told their interrogators they had seen their husband kill a woman," the officer said.

He said the women may be charged with being an accessory to murder.

The three wives are sisters.

During a preliminary interrogation Datuk admitted to killing the women to strengthen his magical power.

The officer said Datuk said he swallowed his dead victims' saliva. He then undressed and buried them. "There were no signs of rape on the victims' bodies," the officer said.

Neighbors said Datuk began learning black magic from his father in 1986.

Police believe Datuk is the serial killer they have been hunting since 1990.

According to the Kompas daily, the police found the bodies of three women in two "cemeteries" on the Nusantara II sugar cane plantation. One was identified as Sri Kemala Dewi, 23, who was reported missing by her father.

On Friday, the shaman showed police his "cemeteries". An exhumation planned by police Friday was delayed by hundreds of spectators. The police will continue the exhumation tomorrow. (05/21)