Indonesian student Reynhard Sinaga, jailed for life for 136 rapes in the UK, hinted at his ‘dark side’ in dissertation

Indonesian national Reynhard Sinaga, a post-graduate student guilty of 136 rapes in the UK. Photo: Police handout
Indonesian national Reynhard Sinaga, a post-graduate student guilty of 136 rapes in the UK. Photo: Police handout

News about an Indonesian national named Reynhard Sinaga, 36, being given a life sentence for raping dozens of men in the UK has made headlines all around the world for the shocking nature of his crimes.

In Indonesia, while it seems that few close to Reynhard would have guessed that the serial rapist was capable of carrying out the heinous crimes, it appears the convict himself hinted that he was a troubled individual years ago.

As reported by the BBC, Reynhard, a post-graduate student in Manchester, was found guilty of 136 counts of rape, eight counts of attempted rape, 14 counts of sexual assault, and one count of assault by penetration against 48 men he lured from outside nightclubs to his apartment, where he drugged and sexually assaulted them while filming the attacks. 

UK authorities say they have evidence that Sinaga assaulted at least 190 victims over a 10-year period, after having moved to England to study in 2007, though many remain unidentified.

Most of his victims had no recollection of the assault due to the effects of the date rape drug Reynhard used. He was caught in 2017 when one victim regained consciousness while being assaulted, fought Reynhard off and notified the police.

Reynhard, described by prosecutors as “the most prolific rapist in British legal history,” was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 30 years in jail before he could be considered for release. In his defense, Reynhard said that he had consensual sex with the victims, and that they agreed to pretend to be asleep while he filmed them having sex.

Reynhard’s parents, who live in Depok, have so far refused to comment on their son’s conviction to the local media. However, as reported by BBC Indonesia, a diplomat at the Indonesian Embassy in London said Reynhard’s mother once told him that Reynhard was “a good boy, diligent in his worship and always goes to church.”

A friend from Reynhard’s time at a renowned university in Indonesia, where he received his undergraduate degree, also said that Reynhard was “sociable, kind, outgoing and fun.”

But it seemed Reynhard concealed something behind his positive facade. In his undergraduate dissertation, which has been picked up by the local media, Reynhard wrote as his foreword, “[Thank you to those who] know ‘the dark side of me,’ everybody has his/her dirty laundry right? Haha.”

It was this dark side that destroyed the lives of so many young men in the UK, one of whom gave a statement to the court saying, “I have periods where I can’t get up and face the day.”

“I hope he never comes out of prison and he rots in hell,” another said.

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