’Welcome to hell’: Britain’s ‘most prolific rapist’ could return to Indonesia

He was found guilty of raping 48 men during a two-year reign of terror. Now, he could soon experience a nightmare at “Indonesia’s Alcatraz”.

Britain’s “most prolific” serial rapist, Reynhard Sinaga, may be moved from his maximum security prison in the United Kingdom to “Indonesia’s Alcatraz”.

According to Indonesia’s co-ordinating minister for law, human rights, immigration and correctional institutions, Yusril Ihza Mahendra, Indonesia is in “early talks” with the UK government regarding Sinaga.

The 41-year-old was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 30 years in 2020 after he was found guilty of raping 48 men in his Manchester flat during a reign of terror that lasted from 2015 to 2017.

A student at the time, Sinaga preyed on vulnerable men who he found disorientated or lost outside clubs in Manchester, luring them back to his apartment by masquerading as a good Samaritan and offering them a place to sleep or charge their mobile phones.

Once there, he gave them drinks laced with drugs before raping and assaulting them while they were unconscious.

The sexual predator filmed the attacks, and UK police said that they thought he had targeted at least 190 victims, some of whom have yet to be identified.

Due to the sheer number of his victims, Sinaga faced four separate trials and a UK judge said that he would “never be safe to be released”.

Indonesian student Reynhard Sinaga, Britain's most prolific rapist. Picture: HO/various sources/AFP

The original 30 year minimum term was also raised to 40 years on appeal.

Yet despite the severity of his crimes, Indonesian authorities said that Sinaga is still an Indonesian citizen and that the government has a duty of care to negotiate for his return.

“No matter how wrong a citizen is, the country has the obligation to defend its citizen,” Minister Yusril said in early February.

He added, however, that Sinaga’s potential return would “not be an easy job” as Indonesia does not have an official prisoner transfer agreement with the UK.

In addition to the potential legal hurdles, experts told news.com.au that Sinaga may be better off staying in the UK.

Evidence shown in the trial of Reynhard Sinaga, who has been described as Britain's 'most prolific rapist'. Picture: Greater Manchester Police

More evidence shown in the trial. Picture: Greater Manchester Police

“Obviously it is going to be a nightmare for him [if he is returned],” Adrianus Meliala, lecturer in criminology at Universitas Indonesia, told news.com.au.

“Sexual offenders occupy the ‘lowest’ strata in the prison community. In other words, you have to be prepared to be the target of other prisoners.

“So, welcome to hell …”

It is not just Indonesian prisoners who operate according to a “moral hierarchy” of crimes, and Sinaga has already faced the wrath of prison vigilantes after he was reportedly brutally bashed at HMP Wakefield on July 4, 2023 by another inmate.

“Basically, he would be swapping one hell for another,” Meliala said.

To make Sinaga’s fate even more bleak, the Indonesian authorities have mooted the possibility that he could be incarcerated in the country’s Nusakambangan prison – an island jail in Central Java which is nicknamed “Indonesia’s Alcatraz” after the prison in the United States which once housed America’s most infamous criminals, including mobster Al Capone.

An Indonesian policeman stands guard at Wijayapura port, the entrance gate to Nusakambangan prison. Picture: Ulet Ifansasti/Getty Images

Al Capone was housed at Alcatraz. Picture: SBS One

Nusakambangan is also known for being the final destination for prisoners facing the death penalty in Indonesia.

The Bali 9 ringleaders, Australians Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan, were executed by firing squad there in 2015.

Myuran Sukumaran, right, and Andrew Chan, left, stand in front of their cell in 2011. Picture: AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati, File

The three Indonesian men responsible for planning and orchestrating the 2002 Bali bombing, which killed 88 Australians, were also executed at Nusakambangan in 2008.

Yet some experts told news.com.au that Sinaga may receive a warmer reception in his homeland than in the UK, where public outcry regarding the case is still running high.

The super maximum security Pasir Putih Prison (left), where the Bali bombers were held, and Permisan Prison (far right), two of the seven prisons on Nusa Kambangan Island. Picture: Supplied

“He might get more sympathy in Indonesia as there might be the attitude that his victims were not Indonesians, so it is no one’s business here,” Indonesian human rights lawyer Ranto Sibarani said.

“The Indonesian government must take care of all its citizens in other countries and make representations on their behalf to bring them back, although it could be difficult in this case,” he added.

The exterior wall of Batu Prison on Nusakambangan Island, where Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran were transferred before execution. Picture: Lukman S. Bintoro

The main gate of Batu Prison on Nusakambangan island. Picture: Lukman S Bintoro

“What would probably need to happen would be that the Indonesian and British governments draft and sign a prisoner transfer agreement first.”

Sibarani added that, while Sinaga’s sexual orientation is not a legal issue in Indonesia, it could be seen as a moral one in a country where homosexuality is still largely stigmatised.

With that in mind, Dr Ian Wilson, a lecturer in politics and security studies at Perth’s Murdoch University, said that he thought Sinaga could face challenges in an Indonesian prison “based on broader societal views” of homosexuality across the country.

It is not clear what would become of Sinaga’s UK life sentence if he was returned to his home turf. Picture: Ulet Ifansasti/Getty Images

“Presumably there are some safeguards and support in the UK system for LGBT prisoners. There are none in Indonesia,” he said.

Dr Wilson also agreed with Sibarani that the legal ambiguities surrounding the case could make any negotiations challenging.

“Indonesia is unlikely to strike a deal unless the UK is keen to offload Sinaga which it may not be considering his victims were UK citizens.”

It is not clear what would become of Sinaga’s UK life sentence if he was returned to his home turf, as the Indonesian authorities have the legal right to award him a sentence reduction or a presidential pardon – although there has been no suggestion that these would be considered.

Dr Wilson said he was also not convinced that either option would happen.

“It is hard to imagine a scenario in which Sinaga would receive a pardon or a significant reduction in his sentence, due to lack of public sympathy or potential for political gain from an early release.”

Aisyah Llewellyn is a freelance journalist based in Indonesia