Shaman questioned over sex scam

CILACAP, Central Java (JP): At least 35 women in the Cilacap area have been swindled out of millions of rupiah and duped into having sexual relations with a shaman who claimed to able to make them more attractive.

Shaman Suryono, 36, is currently being detained at Cilacap Prison after during police interrogation he reportedly admitted to the grievances which were initially reported to the Cikondang village chief in Majenang district.

The women went to the shaman after he built a reputation of possessing magical powers and being able to grant people's wishes.

But apart from money, sexual relations were often demanded as a condition to having their wishes fulfilled. Most of the women who became victims of the man were reportedly housewives or widows.

"Most of these women usually wanted Suryono to make them more attractive, make them easier to get a partner or just wanted to ensure that their husbands would remain faithful and care for them more," Majenang Police chief Lt. Suratno told The Jakarta Post.

Suryono claimed to have magical powers as he was a descendent of the Badui people. He opened up his practice in Salebu village two years ago.

"At first he denied the allegations against him. But after we continued the interrogation with reports from many of his women victims, in the end he could not elude the truth anymore," Suratno said.

"So far only five have officially filed a report to the police, but the Cikondang village chief has received reports from 35 women," he explained, adding that one woman said she lost Rp 20 million to the shaman while another said she had been duped into having intimate relations five times.

"According to these women they were asked to go to Sunaryo's house at midnight on a Friday and bathe in flowered water. They were then read these mantras and put in a dark room naked," Suratno said of the technique of the shaman.

"They were told that while in the room if a man approached them looking like Suryono it was actually a genie who would make their wishes come true as long as they did what this supposed genie said," Suratno explained.

He added that the shaman was now in police custody for his own good as a mob would likely attack him if he was released. He added that a legal process would be underway once investigations were complete.(45)