A madman opened a grave to become invisible

A grave robber from Indonesia confessed to stealing the bones of twins to cast a spell that he believed would give him the ability to fly and become invisible.



On Sunday, police detained 27-year-old Resi Rokhis Suhan in the south of the main island after reports that bones had been stolen from graves. The man was arrested at a banana plantation in the Cilacap area, where he took refuge to perform a ritual. According to the police, he only managed to cut the white shrouds used in the Muslim burial rite with a sickle.



Local police chief Andri Triaspoetra said: "During the preliminary interrogation, he confessed that he robbed graves in order to obtain a magical power called the Magic Knight.

After his arrest, Suhana was admitted to a hospital for a mental health assessment. In Indonesia, which has spread to more than 17,000 islands inhabited by representatives of various peoples, some still believe in black magic.



In 2003, a man was arrested for eating the meat of a newly buried old woman. He was convinced that this ritual would make him invincible.



Earlier this year, Indonesia's Ministry of Justice proposed banning magic that aims to cause pain and suffering. Currently, such spells are punishable by five years in prison.



Black magic is still widely practiced in Indonesia. Various cases of grave robberies have been reported, from which the bodies of children are stolen. Dead virgin teenage girls are especially popular and many families guard the bodies of their children for 40 days after the funeral. On a special day of the Javanese calendar, sorcerers still kidnap and behead children. They believe that a head buried in front of their house will bring wealth and good luck to the family.

Local healers, known as "duncans," are often hired to manage the weather to stop the rain during weddings and large public ceremonies. Magic talisman, spells, oils and clothing with magical properties can be purchased at local markets.



Black magic is also practiced in other parts of Indonesia and Asia. Last year, British citizen Hok Kuen Chow was detained in Bangkok after six human fetuses were found in his luggage. The man was subsequently charged with attempted smuggling. He shipped the embryos to Taiwan, where he was going to sell them to wealthy clients whom he found on the Internet.