Britain’s most prolific rapist could face more charges
SERIAL OFFENDER HAS ANOTHER 10 YEARS ADDED TO JAIL TERM
BRITAIN’S most prolific rapist Reynhard Sinaga could face further prosecutions after dozens of potential victims came forward when he was unmasked.
‘Psychopath’ Sinaga, 37, was jailed in January after carrying out 136 rapes and a string of sexual assaults against 48 men in Manchester city centre.
The predator – described as a ‘narcissist and a psychopath’ by detectives – drugged the victims with drinks laced with GHB or GBL and filmed the attacks on two mobile phones.
Police say 154 men contacted police when details of the rapist’s horrific crimes became public knowledge back in January.
Of those, 23 have been identified as victims by detectives – who are due to interview Sinaga in prison in relation to the fresh allegations.
That brings the total number of victims to 206, around 60 of whom are yet to be identified.
The Indonesian student’s minimum jail term was yesterday increased from 30 to 40 years by judges at the Court of Appeal.
As such, he must spend at least four decades behind bars before he can be considered for parole.
During Sinaga’s final sentencing hearing back in January, Judge Suzanne Goddard QC said she must ‘shrink back’ from passing a whole-life term.
The judge – who presided over all four of Sinaga’s trials at Manchester
Crown Court – described the rapist as a ‘highly dangerous, cunning and deceitful individual who will never be safe to be released’.
Appeal Court judges have now rejected a bid by prosecutors to ramp up Sinaga’s sentence to a whole life term.
The Lord Chief Justice Lord Burnett said Sinaga’s offending was ‘very serious indeed’, but does not call for a whole life tariff.
“This is not to minimise the seriousness of their offending but instead to ensure that the most severe sentence in our jurisdiction is reserved, save exceptionally, either for the most serious cases involving loss of life, or when a substantive plan to murder of similar seriousness is interrupted close to fulfilment,” it was said.
However, Sinaga’s minimum term was increased to reflect the serious nature of his crimes.
The case was referred to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence (ULS) scheme by the Attorney General at the request of CPS lawyers.
Though the outcome is not quite what police and prosecutors were hoping for, the increased sentence will be seen as a win for investigators who worked to bring about justice for his victims.
Assistant Chief Constable Mabs Hussain, of Greater Manchester Police, said: “We welcome today’s ruling and are very pleased that Sinaga will be behind bars a further 10 years.
“From speaking to many of his vic
tims, we know that many will be comforted by this outcome and feel that the extension reflects the heinous nature of the crimes committed.”
ACC Hussain says investigators will now press ahead with investigating the latest claims made against Sinaga and further prosecutions are likely.
“Our role as an investigation team is putting the case forward to the CPS,” he says.
“On each occasion where we can, we will do so.
“Any victim who wants to come forward to support a prosecution, we’ll make sure they have the appropriate support and care available.”
ACC Hussain added: “Sinaga took advantage of what I would call vulnerable young men. We are pleased that the appeal has been considered and we will continue doing everything we can in supporting victims and those who have come forward as a result of our earlier appeals. “Our investigation continues.” The most recently identified victims had mostly been enjoying nights out in Manchester city centre when they were preyed on by Sinaga as they made their way home.
Sinaga is currently in solitary confinement at HMP Wakefield – dubbed ‘Monster Mansion’ because of the large number of well-known murderers and sex-offenders imprisoned there, including Black Cab rapist John Worboys and paedophile Ian Watkins. He was moved from Strangeways to the Category A jail in West Yorkshire in April to serve the rest of his sentence. Detectives have not seen Sinaga since then, but are due to speak to the rapist to question him about the latest string of allegations.
Sinaga was sentenced in relation to crimes against 48 men after four trials at Manchester Crown Court.
Each of those trials was held in secret because of a temporary order which banned the press from reporting the case.
This was to ensure he was given a fair trial on each occasion and so as not to deter potential victims, or witnesses, from coming forward to report his other offences. Reporting restrictions on the case were lifted as Sinaga was sentenced back in January and his shocking crimes were finally revealed.
In the days after, GMP received multiple calls from potential victims of the rapist.
Sinaga was found guilty of all 136 rapes, eight attempted rapes and 14 sexual assaults involving 48 identified men.
We are very pleased that Sinaga will be behind bars a further 10 years ACC Mabs Hussain