The Case of Reynhard Sinaga, Indonesia's Efforts to Repatriate Him

Kapanlagi.com - Reynhard Sinaga, an Indonesian man, suddenly caught the world's attention after being revealed as the perpetrator of the largest rape case in UK history. Cunningly, he managed to deceive hundreds of victims, leaving deep wounds that will never be forgotten. As a result of his horrific crimes, Reynhard was sentenced to life imprisonment in the UK.

However, his story does not end there. Various controversial news about him continue to emerge, including allegations of abuse that occurred behind the bars of a UK prison. Amid this situation, the Indonesian government is now making efforts to repatriate Reynhard on humanitarian grounds, as well as requests from his family who endlessly seek his return.

So, what is the actual chronology of this case that has shaken the international community since 2017 until the repatriation efforts being made? Check out the following summary, compiled by Kapanlagi.com from various sources on Thursday (6/2).

1. The Efforts of the Indonesian Government to Repatriate Reynhard Sinaga

The Indonesian government is actively negotiating with the UK to repatriate Reynhard Sinaga to his homeland, through the Coordinating Ministry for Law, Human Rights, Immigration, and Corrections. With the hope of reaching a satisfactory agreement, the Ministry has communicated with Reynhard's family, who deeply miss their son.

This repatriation process is planned through a prisoner exchange mechanism between the two countries. Interestingly, Reynhard himself has contacted his family in Indonesia twice, as revealed by the Director of Protection for Indonesian Citizens and BHI at the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Judha Nugraha, in an ANTARA report.

2. Reynhard Sinaga Reportedly Attacked in UK Prison

In July 2023, Reynhard Sinaga, who is serving a sentence at HMP Wakefield, West Yorkshire, England, experienced shocking bullying when he was physically attacked by fellow inmates. This attack was triggered by the perception that Reynhard was arrogant and his crimes were considered very heinous by other prisoners.

Although prison officers responded quickly and managed to prevent serious injury to Reynhard, the psychological impact of the incident is quite disturbing.

Currently, the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Indonesian Embassy in London continue to monitor Reynhard's situation and communicate with prison authorities to ensure his safety. According to Judha Nugraha, "Reynhard's condition is generally good, but he is indeed experiencing psychological pressure due to the bullying in prison."

3. Chronology of Reynhard Sinaga's Case as a Sexual Predator in England

This horrifying story begins when Reynhard Sinaga, an Indonesian student, arrived in England in 2007 to pursue higher education. However, between 2015 and 2017, he became a predator targeting young men who were drunk around Manchester nightclubs.

With cunning deceit, Reynhard offered a place to rest in his apartment, only to trap them in darkness. Once the victims entered the apartment, they were served drinks that had been mixed with the drug Gamma Hydroxybutyrate (GHB), rendering them helpless and unconscious.

In that helpless state, Reynhard committed heinous sexual assaults and recorded every horrific moment, even keeping the victims' personal belongings as "trophies" of his crimes, such as phones, watches, and identification cards.

4. How the Reynhard Sinaga Case Was Uncovered

In June 2017, extraordinary bravery emerged from one of Reynhard's victims who woke up during the heinous act. With strong determination, he fought back and managed to escape, then reported the incident to the police.

This brave action triggered Reynhard's arrest, and during a search of his apartment, police found a treasure trove of hundreds of video recordings revealing atrocities against more than 190 victims. This shocking discovery led to the largest rape investigation in British history.

Finally, in January 2020, Reynhard was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 40 years after being found guilty of 159 sexual offenses, including 136 rapes.

5. Profile of Reynhard Sinaga Who Studied in England

Reynhard Tambos Maruli Tua Sinaga, born in Jambi on February 18, 1983, began his academic journey in England in 2007 after earning a bachelor's degree in Architecture from the University of Indonesia.

He continued his master's studies at the University of Manchester, majoring in Urban Planning in 2009 and Sociology in 2011, before finally pursuing a doctoral program at the University of Leeds focusing on human geography.

While in the land of Queen Elizabeth, Reynhard was known as a diligent student and active in various academic activities. However, his brilliant journey came to a halt when he became embroiled in a sexual crime case, resulting in a series of trials from 2010 to 2019.

Although Reynhard claimed that all his actions were consensual, the evidence showed otherwise, with victims found unconscious due to GHB drugging.

6. People Also Ask

Q: Why does the Indonesian government want to repatriate Reynhard Sinaga?

A: The Indonesian government is attempting to repatriate Reynhard Sinaga on humanitarian grounds and at the request of his family.

Q: What is Reynhard Sinaga's condition in the UK prison?

A: Reynhard reportedly experienced physical assaults in July 2023 and is under psychological pressure, but his physical condition is currently good.

Q: What sentence was imposed on Reynhard Sinaga?

A: Reynhard received a life sentence in a UK prison.

(kpl/srr)