Shaman Kept Kidnapped Girl As Sex Slave for 15 Years

A village shaman in Indonesia has been arrested after police rescued the girl he kidnapped 15 years ago.

The girl, named only as "H," was found in a rocky jungle crevice near Bangunan village in Tolitoli regency, on the island of Sulawesi, Reuters reported.

The woman, now 28, was discovered after a tip-off. She disappeared aged 12 in 2003 and had been held by the shaman ever since. The shaman told her parents their daughter had left the village to make a life for herself in the capital Jakarta.

The witch doctor, identified by police as "JG," is now 83 years old. He reportedly entrapped the girl and told her he would marry her to a spirit he was friends with. During the day, she stayed in the small crevice. At night, he would bring her to a hut near his house.

The shaman tricked the girl into thinking he had been possessed by a young boy called Amrin, a picture of whom he would show her. At a Tuesday news conference, Central Sulawesi Police Chief Muhammad Iqbal Alqudusy said of the man: "It is obvious that he was satisfying his lust." Later, he told Reuters the girl thought Amrin was her boyfriend and had acknowledged having sex with him for 15 years. "But really she was having sex with JG," he said.

According to The Jakarta Post, H told police she became pregnant several times during her detention, but that the shaman had given her a potion to perform an abortion. He also told her a spirit was guarding the small hole where she stayed during the daytime, to stop her from running away.

JG has admitted to sexual relations with the girl since 2008. He had covered up her disappearance by telling her family he had seen her leave for Jakarta to find work. He would also take food to her family, which JG said was bought with the proceeds of her employment. After some time he stopped, claiming to have lost contact with the girl.

However, it would appear H's sister—who was married to the shaman's son—knew of her whereabouts. Because of her marriage, she reportedly did not tell anyone what she knew. However, a neighbor heard the sister arguing with her husband and threatening to reveal the kidnapping. The neighbor then went to police, The Post explained.

JG has been charged under Indonesia's child protection laws, and faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in jail. Both the sister and her husband have been questioned and could face also charges.

Though Indonesia is a predominantly Muslim country—the most populous one on the planet—some areas are still heavily influenced by traditional beliefs around spirits and paranormal activity. This is especially true in more rural areas.

Iqbal said JG was respected in the village, and would regularly use traditional healing methods to treat a range of maladies. He also helped locals with marital, romantic or business problems. When treating villagers, JG would apparently act as if he was possessed by a spirit, which convinced locals that he was a genuine shaman, the police chief added.