Indonesia: Man killed 42 women to receive magical powers

Indonesia executed a man convicted of killing 42 women and girls in a series of ritual slayings he believed would give him magical powers, his lawyer said today.

Ahmad Suradji, 57, was killed by firing squad late yesterday in western Indonesia despite a last minute appeal by Amnesty International, a UK-based human rights advocacy group that opposes capital punishment in all cases.

"He appeared resigned to his fate,'' said attorney general office's spokesman Bonaventura Nainggolan.

"His final wish was to see his wife. We fulfilled this.''

Suradji was arrested in May 1997 following the discovery of a body in a field close to this house in Lubukpakan, a village in North Sumatra province. Forty-one other corpses were later found nearby.

Police have said the victims came to Suradji because they believed he had supernatural powers. The victims were believed to have been seeking his help in making their husbands or boyfriends faithful, find a partner or get rich.

He lured them to the field and buried them up to the waist, telling them it was part of the ritual. He then strangled them and buried their bodies with the heads pointing toward his house.

He has told police he believed the 11-year killing spree would boost his magical powers.

Suradji's wife, Tumini, was also sentenced to death for assisting with the murders, but her sentence was later reduced to life in prison.

Belief in sorcery and the supernatural is common across Indonesia, especially in poor, rural areas where education levels are low.

LNK

Indonesia: Man killed 42 women to receive magical powers

Indonesia: Man killed 42 women to receive magical powers

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