Indonesian Sorcerer Admits Killing 42

A self-described sorcerer has confessed to killing 42 women who paid him to concoct spells to keep their husbands and boyfriends faithful, police said Monday.

Police arrested Nasib, alias Datuk Maringgi, on Friday after three bodies were found buried near his village on the outskirts of Medan, the capital of North Sumatra.

Datuk initially confessed to killing 16 women, aged 12 to 30, since 1990 to enhance his magical powers, Indonesian media reported.

However, police in Medan, about 875 miles northwest of Jakarta, told The Associated Press by telephone that under further questioning the 45-year-old Datuk increased the number of his victims to 42, dating back to 1986. Authorities said they were unsure whether to believe him.