Indonesian rapist Reynhard Sinaga’s 30-year sentence too lenient, says UK attorney general

The Indonesian PhD student was described as Britain’s worst-known sex offender, after drugging and assaulting at least 195 men

Britain’s attorney general wants a ‘whole life order’ which would mean Reynhard Sinaga is never eligible for release

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Indonesian student Reynhard Sinaga, Britain's most prolific rapist, was jailed for life, with a minimum term of 30 years in prison, but the attorney general is seeking a stronger sentence to ensure he is never released from prison. Photo: AFP

Published: 10:32am, 17 Jan 2020Updated: 10:32am, 17 Jan 2020

Britain’s attorney general on Thursday appealed against a minimum 30-year prison term given to an Indonesian man described as the country’s worst-known sex offender, calling it “unduly lenient”.

Geoffrey Cox asked the Court of Appeal to consider imposing a “whole life order” on mature student Reynhard Sinaga, 36, so he is never eligible for release from jail.

Sinaga was convicted of 159 offences in total, including 136 rapes and eight attempted rapes, at four separate trials which began in June 2018 and ended last December.

A combination of still images used in evidence in convicting Reynhard Sinaga, including a CCTV image and alcohol bottles in his flat. Photo: Reuters

A judge in Manchester said he would serve at least 30 years in jail as part of a life sentence for a catalogue of offences on unsuspecting men he drugged and assaulted.

Police believe he may have attacked as many as 195 men after luring unsuspecting, mainly heterosexual men on nights out in Manchester city centre into his flat.

“After carefully considering the details of this case, I have decided to refer the sentence to the Court of Appeal,” Cox said in a statement.

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