Two notorious criminals who are serving life sentences for some of the worst offences of rape ever tried in England and Wales have had their minimum jail terms increased by the Court of Appeal.
One of them, Reynard Sinaga, 37, was handed a life sentence at Manchester Crown Court in January after being convicted of more than 150 offences, including 136 counts of rape, committed against 48 men – although police have linked him to more than 190 potential victims.
He had attended St Chrysostom's Church, in Victoria Park, Manchester. The Diocese of Manchester said at the time: "Reynhard Sinaga is guilty of the most appalling crimes.
"We can confirm that Reynhard Sinaga did worship occasionally at a city centre church and it appears that nobody who came into contact with him had any inkling of his crimes."
His mother also said that he had attended church every Sunday in Indonesia and came from a "good Christian family".
However, he preyed on lone, drunk young men around nightclubs near his flat in Manchester, posing as a Good Samaritan who offered them a floor to sleep on or promised them more drink.
The Indonesian student drugged the men then filmed himself sexually violating them while they were unconscious, with many of his victims having little or no memory of the assaults.
Judge Suzanne Goddard QC, who sentenced him to a minimum of 30 years, described Sinaga as “an evil serial sexual predator” and a “monster”.
Speaking after the Court of Appeal ruling, Greater Manchester Police assistant chief constable Mabs Hussain 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 victims, we know that many will be comforted by this outcome and feel that the extension reflects the heinous nature of the crimes committed.
“At the very heart of this case has always been the victims and supporting them through their horrific ordeal.
“The bravery that these men continue to show has been nothing short of incredible and we, alongside partners such as St Mary’s Sexual Assault Referral Centre (Sarc) and Survivors Manchester, will continue to offer as much support as possible to the victims and help them in every way we can.”
Mr Hussain said investigators now believe Sinaga committed sexual offences against 206 men, as a result of further evidence coming to light, and said police are yet to identify about 60 of these men.
He urged anyone who thinks they may have been a victim to contact either the force or specialist organisations such as Sarc.
He also said officers have been able to identify another 23 possible victims of Sinaga following further reports to police, after reporting restrictions on the case were lifted in January 2020.
