Siswanto

Background

Siswanto, also known as Robot Gedek, was a homeless Indonesian man.

The offence

Siswanto mutilated and removed the internal organs of all of his 12 victims. He confessed to killing 12 boys and leaving their mutilated bodies on the streets. The 12 victims were boys aged 9 to 15. The dead youngsters were found with their stomachs slashed open, and most were naked. Siswanto admitted to sexually molesting his victims before killing them. He told police he enjoyed drinking the blood of his victims and that he sometimes kept pieces of their skin.

Investigation

Police reported that Robot Gedek mutilated and removed the internal organs of all of his 12 victims.

Arrest

On August 6, 1996, Siswanto confessed to his crimes after being arrested in 1996 when he was begging at Tegal Train Station in Central Java.

Trial

On May 21, 1997, an Indonesian court found Siswanto guilty of 12 murders and sentenced him to death. After sentencing, the presiding judge Sartono of the Central Jakarta State Court said:

"crimes sent shock waves through the community because he sadistically killed underage boys. What he did can never be forgiven."

Sentencing

Siswanto was sentenced to death on May 21, 1997.

Outcome

Siswanto died in prison on March 26, 2007 from a cardiac arrest in Nusakambangan Prison.

Timeline

• December 1994 — Siswanto’s 18-month killing spree began.
• August 6, 1996 — Siswanto confessed to killing 12 boys and to sexually molesting the victims before killing them.
• July 5, 1996 — The last victim was found.
• May 21, 1997 — An Indonesian court sentenced Siswanto to death.
• March 26, 2007 — Siswanto died in prison from a cardiac arrest in Nusakambangan Prison.

Other details

Eight of the killings took place in Jakarta and two in the city of Pekalongan in central Java. His aliases included Robot Gedek. His killings were described as an 18-month spree. The presiding judge named at sentencing was Sartono.