Manchester City, the UK. As people partied all the way throughout the night, one Indonesian begins looking for his prey.
Reynhard Sinaga starts seeking for his prey: Young unsuspecting male party-goers who're either too drunk or waiting for their friends.
With a smile and a small figure, it's hard to see him as a dangerous person. But this Indonesian is the country's "most prolific rapist".
Why was he dangerous?
For several years until the 36-year-old was caught in 2017, Sinaga had raped a total of 190 men. He also committed 159 sex offences together with 136 rapes.
The postgraduate student's modus operandi was to offer a place to rest for the night to party-goers outside nightclubs before spiking their drinks and raping them. Majority of his victims were heterosexual men.
He also collected "trophies" in the form of some 800 over video recordings of him raping the unconscious men. All of them were taken from his two smartphones.
Sinaga was also reported to have stolen smartphones of his victims along with their identification cards and watches.
Majority of his victims typically woke up not remembering what had transpired the night before. Many didn't know they were raped until they were approached by the police.
How did he get caught?
Sinaga was finally caught in June 2017 when one victim managed to regain consciousness while he was being assaulted. Managing to fend off Sinaga, he called the police.
Upon seizing Sinaga's smartphone, the police discovered that he had not only filmed the rape but also of hundreds other victims as well.
This opened up the largest-ever rape inquiry in British history.
"We suspect he's offended over a period of 10 years. The information and evidence we are going from is largely from trophies that he's collected from the victims of his crimes," Assistant Chief Constable Mabbs Hussain said.
Sinaga, who was a student at the University of Manchester, had used GHB (gammahydroxybutyrate) to drug his victims.
Following his trial which took a lengthy 18 months, the Manchester Crown Court has sentenced Sinaga for life in prison.
"(Sinaga is) an evil serial sexual predator who has preyed upon young men who had wanted nothing more than a good night out with their friends. In my judgment you are a highly dangerous, cunning and deceitful individual who will never be safe to be released," Judge Suzanne Goddard QC had said when meting out her judgement.
UK police is still looking for more people to testify against Sinaga as they believe there are more victims.
How to avoid falling prey to people like Sinaga.
The news of Sinaga has now become a talk of the town in UK. It is unthinkable that someone as pleasant looking as the Indonesian could have committed such atrocities.
Here are some ways to ensure that you and your friends are safe whenever you guys go out partying:
- Always stick together.
- Make plans before heading out.
- Hold on to your drink at all times.
- Get a new drink if your drink is out of sight.
- Don't accept a drink from anyone except the bartender (who you must watch pouring the drink in).
- Avoid sharing drinks and drinking anything that tastes or smells strange.
- Always keep your smartphone charged at all times.
- Plan the ride home before hand.
- Avoid sleeping over a stranger's house.
- Overcommunicate your whereabouts.
- Trust your gut.
Stay safe.
Cover image sourced from Liputan 6.
