Jakarta – A team of lawmakers tasked with deliberating a bill has agreed to retain an article within the Criminal Code (KUHP) bill, making it illegal for people to declare that they "possess the ability to perform black magic" and to tell other people they can "cast spells to cause sickness and death".

Article 295 of the bill, known as the santet (black magic) article, stipulates that those found guilty of using black magic could face five years' imprisonment and be fined Rp 300 million (US$22,480).

"They can be charged even if they only declare to have black magic abilities, even if they have yet to commit a crime," said Democratic Party lawmaker Benny Kabur Harman, who chairs the team, said on Thursday.

"So the point is a person's declaration, because there is no way to prove whether someone possesses the ability to practice black magic," Benny added.

In the prevailing Criminal Code, people selling, offering or distributing things that are claimed to have "dark" powers and those teaching black magic can be jailed for three months and ordered to pay a Rp 450,000 fine.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/11/18/national-scene-lawmakers-agree-outlaw-black-magic.html