Shaman serial killer's story to become film

JAKARTA (JP): The infamous North Sumatran shaman being tried for killing 42 women, Achmad Suraji alias Nasib Kelewang, will soon get his chance at stardom now that his life and alleged heinous crimes have been made into a movie.

Antara reported from Medan, North Sumatra, yesterday that the film will hit cinema houses across the country Friday, when Indonesia will celebrate Idul Fitri according to government calendars.

Directed by Eddie S.S. and produced by T. Hamdan Aziz of the PT Diwangkara Citra Swara Film, the Rp 1 billion Misteri Kebun Tebu (The Mystery of the Sugarcane Plantation) runs for one hour and 20 minutes. The shaman allegedly killed and buried his victims in the Sei Semayang sugarcane field in Deliserdang, North Sumatra.

The film documents the methods allegedly employed by Amat Suraji to lure and kill the women who went to him for his help for various ailments. It will contain a police reconstruction of the murders and some "additional scenes" using local people, such as the parents and a husband of one of the victims.

The Ministry of Information's Film Censor Institute has passed the movie.

In a media conference, accompanied by North Sumatran police spokesman Lt. Col. Amrin Karim, Hamdan admitted there are some steamy scenes in the movie.

"Just like in the real story, but they (the sex scenes) are taken from a distance," Hamdan was quoted by Antara as saying.

He claimed several provinces have requested to screen the movie.

"I will also develop the case into a 52-episode sinetron (television series)," Hamdan said.

Starring in the adult movie is Wawan Wanisar, Devi Ivone, Rina Martini, Linda Latief, Denny Dee, Chandra Sundawa, Lucyana Gress, Chi Chi and Hendrik Kubu.

The shaman, who claims to be able to perform spiritual healing and pass on good fortune, told police he killed the women in black magic rituals. He earlier said he was prepared should he be sentenced to death. (swe)