Ahmad Suradji

Ahmad Suradji was a serial killer in Indonesia. Suradji, a cattle-breeder born in 1951, was executed July 10 2008. He was also known as Nasib Kelewang, or by his alias Datuk. He admitted to killing 42 girls and women over a period of 11 years. His victims ranged in age from 11 to 30, and were strangled with a cable after being buried up to their waists in the ground as part of a ritual. Suradji was arrested on May 2, 1997, after bodies were discovered near his home on the outskirts of Medan, the capital of North Sumatra. He buried his victims in a sugarcane plantation near his home, with heads of the victims facing his house, which he believed would give him extra power.

He told police that he had a dream in 1988 in which his father's ghost told him to kill 70 women and drink their saliva, so that he could become a mystic healer. As a sorcerer, women came to him for spiritual advice or on making themselves more beautiful or richer. His three wives—all sisters—were also arrested for assisting in the murders and helping to hide the bodies. One of his wives, Tumini, was tried as his accomplice. The trial began on December 11, 1997, with a 363-page charge against him, and although Suradji maintained his innocence, he was found guilty on April 27, 1998 by a three-judge panel in Lubukpakam. He was sentenced to death by firing squad and executed on July 10, 2008 [cite web | title=Indonesian Sorcerer Executed| url=http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/Indonesian-Sorcerer-Who-Killed-42-Women-In-Ritual-Slayings-To-Be-Executed-Soon/Article/200807215030615?lpos=World%2BNews_4&lid=ARTICLE_15030615_Indonesian%2BSorcerer%2BWho%2BKilled%2B42%2BWomen%2BIn%2BRitual%2BSlayings%2BTo%2BBe%2BExecuted%2BSoon | publisher=Sky News | date=2008-07-11 | accessdate=2008-07-11] [cite web | title=Indonesian executed for killing 42 females | url=http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/07/10/indonesia.execution.ap/index.html | publisher=CNN | date=2008-07-11 | accessdate=2008-07-11] .

References

External links

* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/84093.stm Indonesian sorcerer sentenced to death] "BBC News Online" 27 April, 1998
* [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article4312704.ece Times]
* [http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-ahmad-suradji-080711-ht,0,7984048.story Chicago Tribune]
* [http://www.transworldnews.com/NewsStory.aspx?id=53122&cat=14 TransWorld News]
* [http://www.detiknews.com/read/2008/07/11/135622/970587/10/dukun-as-tewas-ditembus-3-peluru Detik News] (Indonesian)