inp.polri.go.id - Situbondo. The Criminal Investigation Unit of the Situbondo Sub-regional Police, East Java, arrested two people suspected of murdering a man due to rumors of shamanism.

Head of Criminal Investigation Unit of the Situbondo Sub-regional Police, Police Senior Inspector Agung Hartawan, said that the attack that resulted in the death of the victim Jumawi (50) occurred on Saturday (5/24/2025) night at the victim's house in Sopet Village, Jangkar District.

"In addition to securing two perpetrators with the initials SB (24) and AR (35), who are the victim's neighbors, we also secured evidence in the form of two machetes and several other pieces of evidence," he said in his statement in Situbondo, Monday (5/26/2025).

Based on the results of the examination of witnesses and suspects, it was revealed that suspect SB suspected that the victim had practiced black magic on his grandmother, grandfather and uncle until they died.

According to him, suspect SB was determined to kill his neighbor after asking for help from several shamans. The shamans said that the victim has practiced black magic on his family. The statement was also supported by the opinions of several local residents.

The suspect SB's belief grew stronger when his mother was also seriously ill and was suspected of being cursed by the victim.

When he was confused about his mother's condition who was seriously ill in the hospital, the suspect SB decided to go home to see the victim.

When SB left for the victim's house, carrying a sickle, his cousin, AR, followed from behind also carrying a sickle. When they arrived at the victim's house, the suspect AR immediately attacked the victim, followed by the suspect SB.

"As a result of being attacked with sickles several times by the suspects SB and AR, the victim's body suffered serious injuries, resulting in his death at the Asembagus Regional Hospital," said AKP Agung.

The two suspects in the alleged murder were charged with Article 338 of the Criminal Code or Article 351 paragraph (3) of the Criminal Code concerning the crime of murder or assault resulting in death with a prison sentence of 15 years in prison.

(ad/inp/pr/rs)