Man Catches Wife Cheating, Hands Her Over To Lover In Traditional Ceremony — Gets Cow And Rs 26,000 Atonement

The former couple was married for five years. (Photo Credit: X)

A rather unusual story from Indonesia has caught the attention of the world. A man from the North Konawe district in Indonesia’s Southeast Sulawesi province resolved his wife’s infidelity through a centuries-old tribal custom. The region, where the duo resided, is home to the Tolaki people, a tribe known for their traditional clothing and deeply rooted cultural values.

According to local media outlet Tribunnews Sultra, the man, identified as SRH, from Puudombi village in Konawe Regency, was married to his wife, NS, for five years before he discovered her affair. In September, SRH reportedly caught his wife with another man in a boarding house. He took a motorcycle and other pieces of evidence to the police as proof of their affair. The pair later admitted to it. The lover was identified as an employee of a mining company.

What Is Mowea Sarapu, Following Which The Husband Let Go Of His Wife?

Following the discovery, SRH sought the guidance of local elders and asked them to resolve the matter through a traditional ceremony called Mowea Sarapu, which translates to “letting go and making peace”. The ritual, which has been practised in the region for centuries, serves as a method of mutual reconciliation in marital troubles.

The man decided to hand his wife over to her lover in exchange for some cash and a cow to settle the matter peacefully. By doing so, he intended to preserve his dignity and end the conflict. The ritual is also meant to cleanse NS of any wrongdoing symbolically. This practice carries the belief of the Tolaki tribe that failing to restore balance in the community could lead to misfortune for everyone involved.

The Husband Asked His Wife’s Lover To “Take Good Care Of Her”

As seen in a clip from the ceremony, SRH and NS publicly spoke and apologised to each other in front of their elders, relatives and residents. The video also showed SRH visibly emotional, with him even grasping the shoulder of his wife’s lover and saying, “Please take good care of her. Never hurt her. She has never been happy with me.” Then, as part of the ceremony, the lover offered a cow, a piece of traditional cloth, a copper vessel, and five million rupiah (Approx INR 26,000) in cash to SRH.