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)