Indonesia police probe poisoning linked to ritual

JAKARTA, July 25 (Reuters) Indonesian police are investigating the death of eight people in West Java, alleged to have been poisoned after drinking a potion during a mystic ritual supposed to help secure wealth, an officer said today.

Six men had been detained in Lebak district, 75 km west of the capital, after the bodies were found buried in two graves, local police chief Dwi Gunawan said by telephone.

Gunawan said one suspect had admitted to tricking the victims into believing that the ritual, which involved chanting mantras and rubbing on aromatic oils, could give them powers that would allow them to multiply their wealth.

During the ritual, the victims were asked to climb into a hole and were then buried after collapsing from drinking a special potion, Gunawan said.

''The mix turned out to be potassium, a poison often used to catch fish,'' Gunawan told Reuters.

Another officer read out a police report alleging the suspects had taken the victim's belongings, which included cash and mobile phones.

It is common for Indonesians to seek help from self-proclaimed sorcerers to secure wealth, power or improve health.

Despite being predominantly Muslim, belief in mysticism runs deep in many parts of the country, amid a strong influence from centuries of Hinduism and animism predating Islam.

REUTERS SBC VV1936