Reynhard Sinaga: UK’s most prolific rapist could have jail sentence increased after review is called

Request is made to prevent Indonesian national from ever walking free

While Sinaga was found guilty of crimes against 48 men, police have video evidence that the real number of victims is at least 195 (Facebook/Sinaga)

A mature student labelled the UK’s most prolific ever rapist could have his time in prison increased after the attorney general’s office confirmed it was to review whether his sentence had been unduly lenient.

Reynhard Sinaga was jailed for life but given permission to apply for parole after 30 years following four separate trials in which he was found guilty of drugging, rendering unconscious and sexually abusing 48 men in Manchester.

Now, the sentence will be reconsidered after a letter was sent to the office of Geoffrey Cox officially requesting the 36-year-old Indonesian national be prevented from ever walking free.

If a full life sentence was imposed, it would be the first time in British legal history that such a punishment had been handed down to someone who had not committed murder.

“The case has been referred to our office and is now under review,” a spokesperson told The Independent.

Under the unduly lenient sentence scheme, a decision will be made within 28 days.

It is not clear who sent the letter requesting the review but, at Sinaga’s trial, the Crown Prosecution Service was keen to push for a full life term. Anyone can send such a letter to the attorney generals’ office as part of the unduly lenient sentence scheme, including victims or their relative.

It is understood that key points it raises are the fact that, while Sinaga was found guilty of crimes against 48 men, Greater Manchester Police have video evidence that the real number of victims is at least 195 – many of them unidentified.

An incident room set up after the rapist’s identity was made public on 6 January has received “numerous” calls from potential victims, a force spokesperson has said.

At his initial sentencing at Manchester Crown Court, Judge Suzanne Goddard told him it was “borderline” whether he should be given a whole-life term but decided that he could be considered for release when he was 66.

“Whilst these offences collectively and individually are of the utmost seriousness, and in my view did involve a risk to life … the features of torture and violence are absent, and do not involve death or lasting serious physical injury,” she said. “You are clearly well versed in the necessary doses and mercifully none of the victims suffered any lasting serious physical effects.

“The sole feature that would allow the court to contemplate the passing of a whole life order would be the vast scale of your offending which now involves 48 victims. This is in my view a borderline case, as described in the authorities, and as such I must therefore shrink back from passing a whole life order.”

Sinaga targeted men – often teenagers – who had been separated from friends while enjoying nights out in Manchester city centre.

He lured them back to his city centre flat with the promise of the use of a phone charger or more drinks before drugging them and, in most cases, raping them. He was only caught when one teenage victim woke up as he was being abused.