Soothsayer accused of rape

AMBON, Maluku: A 65-year-old soothsayer has been taken into police custody after being accused of raping 200 women in the last 30 years, Antara reported yesterday.

Four local women from Batumerah village, Sirimau district, filed sexual harassment complaints with the police against Abdul Wahid Woro, according to Lt. Col. Susno Duaji of Ambon Police.

"The soothsayer, who only accepted female clients, admitted that he has raped 200 women since 1964," Duaji said.

The four women, aged between 19 and 33, told police they went to Woro for treatment for various "ailments" for four months with no results, in which time he also sexually harassed them.

The report said that Woro, who was believed to have supernatural abilities to heal illnesses and bring good luck to people, had repeated sexual contact with his clients as part of treatment. Some clients had to pay between Rp 77,000 (US$28) and Rp 93,000 for treatment. (swe)