Shaman's wife gets death sentence

Shaman's wife gets death sentence

JAKARTA (JP): The Lubuk Pakam District Court in North Sumatra
handed down a death sentence yesterday to Tumini, a wife of
notorious shaman Achmad Suraji, for deliberately assisting him in
killing 42 women.

Achmad, alias Datuk, was sentenced by the same court Monday to
be executed by firing squad after he was found guilty of killing
the women, who sought his help to make their partners faithful.

About 100 people attending the court session applauded when
the verdict was read.

Tumini, as had her husband previously, immediately said she
would appeal the verdict.

According to the court, Tumini helped her husband since 1986
in the murders as part of Achmad's efforts to boost his black
magic powers.

The woman, 47, and her two younger sisters are all married to
Achmad, but only Tumini was involved in the murders.

Her husband killed the women by luring them to a sugar cane
plantation in Sei Mayang, Sunggal, 25 kilometers east of the
North Sumatran capital of Medan.

After slaying his victims, Achmad drank their saliva because
he believed it would improve his healing strength.

Their crime was uncovered in April last year after a woman's
body was found buried in the sugar cane field in Sei Mayang.

A national film producer made a popular biopic on Achmad after
paying him for his consent. The latter has since complained that
the portrayal is much harsher than he expected. (prb)