KLIA Heist: CCTVs not switched on during shoot-out

KUALA LUMPUR: The closed-circuit television cameras outside the Kuala Lumpur International Airport departure hall were not switched on during the shoot-out.

And it was also revealed that the off-duty policeman, who was initially thought to have been caught in the crossfire, was involved in the shoot-out with the gunmen.

The policeman, however, was hit twice and his police-issued semi-automatic pistol was taken by the gunmen.

Federal Criminal Investigation Department director Datuk Mohd Bakri Zinin said checks showed the CCTVs were switched on again after the five-minute shoot-out.

"It has hampered police investigations. We were hoping that the footages from the CCTVs could have provided us with information about the gunmen," Bakri said.
"What's the point of having CCTVs if they are not switched on? It is not for decorative purposes."

Bakri declined to elaborate on the matter but said police were working on several leads, including photofits of the suspects, based on eye-witness accounts.

"We believe that at least two of the gunmen were injured in the shoot-out. We are on the lookout for those seeking treatment for gunshot wounds."

Police are pulling out files on Indian gangs who were linked to similar robberies in the past as the gunmen who shot the moneychangers on Wednesday were said to be of dark complexion and had shouted instructions in Tamil.

The gunmen were believed to have escaped in two four-wheel drives, believed to be a BMW and a Toyota Hilux. Until press time, no arrests have been made, nor have the vehicles been spotted.

Bakri did not discount the possibility that the robbery was an inside job as very few people knew of the moneychangers' movements on Wednesday.

Malaysia Airports Berhad senior general manager (operations) Da-tuk Azmi Murad refused to comment on the CCTVs.

"This is a police case. Let the police comment on this," he said, adding that it was helping police in the investigations.

When pressed further, he said the CCTVs were operated by it.

Two CCTVs are visible at the driveway outside the departure hall.

Source: The New Straits Times

Backround story:

KILL ’EM ALL

... Gunman’s chilling scream in daring RM3.3m KLIA robbery

THE chilling cry was: “Kill ‘em all.” Those were the terrifying words screamed in Tamil by a gunman just before he and his three accomplices opened fi re on two money changers and their armed security escorts in a daring RM3.5 million robbery at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) yesterday.

This ambush, at 7.50pm, happened in full view of security personnel and airport users at the entrance to the departure hall. The ensuing gun battle between the robbers and the escorts left five people injured.

Police recovered 40 spent shell casings at the scene in what has been described as the most daring robbery in a highsecurity area.

The manner in which this gang, yet to be identified by police, pulled it off, indicates it was a do-or-die mission.

The last major incident at an airport was in Nov 20, 2006, when 20 men in Rela uniform raided a warehouse at the Batu Maung Free Commercial Zone in Penang and made off with RM50 million worth of microchips. On Aug 31, 1994, the Mamak Gang pulled off a RM10 million gold bar heist at Subang Airport.

Injured in the crossfi re was a Nepalese man, Lal Bahadur Shrees, 29, who was to take a flight home, and an off-duty police officer, Lance Corporal Zainuddin Mat Isa, 39, who were hit in the legs by stray bullets.

Others injured in their legs and thighs were security guard Ahmad Suhaime Mohd Yussop, 49, and money changers Muhamad Fadzil Amanullah Khan, 20, and Buhakri Abdullah, 22.

One of the victims, Nagur Gani, 36, was among the three money changers in the group. He was the only one in the group who wasn’t injured in the gun battle.

He said the group, from their offi ce in Kuala Lumpur, had gone to KLIA to conduct a monetary transaction with another group.

He said they were carrying a bag filled with SGD1.5 (RM3.5 million) to exchange it for Indonesian rupiahs with another party.

His group, he said, had arrived at Gate 7, and alighted from their four-wheel drive vehicle.

They were walking towards Gate 8 when he felt something amiss.

“As we were walking, I could see two men approaching us. I felt uneasy and pointed them out to our security guard,” he said.

However, just as their armed escort was about to draw his weapon from his holster, the two men drew out their fi rearms and fired into the air.

“I heard one of the men speak in Tamil, ‘Kill them all’,” he said.

Terrified, Nagur said he tried to turn back but to his shock, saw two more gunmen behind.

“At that point, I just collapsed to the ground. I was so afraid for my life that I broke down and wept,” he said.

Nagur was visibly upset over the incident and refused to speak further to reporters.

Nepali worker Lal Bahadur Shrees, 29, and Lance Corporal Zainuddin Mat Isa, 39.

It is learnt that Zainuddin, attached to the Sepang criminal investigation department, was off-duty and had gone to KLIA to meet a friend when he got caught in the crossfire. Lal, meanwhile, was being sent home to Nepal by his employer when he got hit by a stray bullet (see accompanying story).

It is understood that the money changers’ security guard exchanged fire with the robbers but he too, was injured after being fi red upon. Police found some 40 spent cartridges at the location.

The stray bullets also shattered the glass doors and windows of five glass windows between Gate 8 and Gate 7.

Sepang police chief Supt Zahedi Ayub said that as the victims alighted their vehicle and were walking, the four victims were shot at and as they were lying down on the fl oor, one of the robbers grabbed the bag containing the money and fl ed.

“It is believed that between four and six robbers who did not wear any mask were involved in the robbery. They were dark-skinned and believed to be locals.

“Based on preliminary investigations, it appears that the robbers knew the movements of the victims. It is categorised as an organised crime,” he said.

All the victims suffered light injuries in the thighs and feet and were treated at the Pusrawi Clinic at the KLIA before being sent to Putrajaya Hospital for further treatment.

Police, meanwhile, were baffl ed as to why the group was carrying so much cash with them. A senior police officer told The Malay Mail that they would also look into this aspect as part of their investigation.

Selangor police chief Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar, declined to comment.

“It’s still early days. We are investigating the case.”

Source: The Malay Mail

Tourist lodge report RM700 for a short cab trip

HOW much is the fare from Kuala Lumpur International Airport to Kuala Lumpur?
If you are unlucky, you might end up paying RM700, as experienced by two couples from Ireland and Scotland.

Maurreen Timmins, 51, from Ireland, arrived in KLIA from London with his wife and his friends, a couple from Scotland, yesterday at 7.30am for transit.

They were to leave for Australia at 9.35pm.

On arrival, they waited for their tourist agent from Fleet Holidays Sdn Bhd as the agency was supposed to arrange for transport and a hotel.

However, they were approached by a well-dressed man claiming to be from the agency. He introduced himself as ‘Babuji’.

“Babuji claimed that the tour agency had a problem and couldn’t pick us up. He was wearing a suit and fluent in English.

“He made a few calls from his cell phone and told us that everything had been settled.

“He then asked us to pay RM700 for transport from KLIA to the hotel and back and told us that we could claim our money from the tour agent.

“After paying him RM700 in cash, he took us to a van. We were taken directly to the hotel.”

At the hotel, Timmins said he contacted the agency to claim for the fare but was told that their agent was still waiting for them at the airport.

That was when the foreigners realised that they had been cheated by touts. They then lodged a police report.

Fleet Holidays Sdn Bhd operation manager Mohd Zaid Yahya said it was not the first such incident.

“The touts approach tourists at the arrival gate and will convince them that their bus had broken down or the travel agency had to cancel their transport and hotel booking.

“The tout will then promise to arrange everything for a higher fee that the tourists are supposed to claim from their travel agents.

“They will even issue a fake receipt and take their victims to taxi drivers who are working with them.

“The fake receipt does not have any contact number or address making it impossible for the authorities to detect them,” said Zaid.

He said that touts and illegal taxi operators are still operating at the airport despite the matter being highlighted in the media many times.

“I hope that the authorities will take stern action,” said Zaid, who had helped the tourists lodge a police report at KLIA.

Deputy Tourism Minister Datuk Donald Lim said that touts and illegal taxi operators at the airport can badly affect tourism in Malaysia.

“This issue has been there for a while and Tourism Malaysia is very concerned,” he said.

“We hope tourists who were cheated will co-operate by lodging a complaint with us or police. We urge cheated tourists to provide the registration numbers of the taxis so that action can be taken.”

He urged the Commercial Vehicle Licensing Department and the Road Transport Department to take action.

Source: The Malay Mail

INDECENT EXPOSURE

A LOUNGE in Jalan Ipoh became one of the most sought after nightspots within a month of its opening.

And the lure was not good music, but an eyeful from female Filipino and Thai band members who would strip to their bras and underwear after a few riffs every night.

But on Thursday, the energetic performance by the seven women was cut short by eight Immigration flying squad officers who had posed as patrons for three nights.

The lounge had hired the band three weeks ago to lure customers from other nightspots in the area and it had received rave reviews from the crowd.

Immigration enforcement director Datuk Ishak Mohamed said the band members had been performing daily between 9pm and 2.30am.

He said the girls were performing in bras and underwear, covered only with transparent tops, not realising there were undercover Immigration officers in the crowd.

The raid, dubbed Ops Sayang, followed a tip-off.

“We found the lounge management had not applied for professional passes for the foreign band, rendering them illegal,” said Ishak.

“The lounge was competing with other clubs in the neighbourhood and probably decided on the performance on top of the singing to attract more customers,” said Ishak, adding that the band members were promised a salary of between RM1,000 and RM1,500 a month by the management.

Besides the band members, two Bangladeshi bartenders wearing cleaner tags were detained in the two-hour raid. Those detained were aged between 20 and 25.

“The club manager was arrested for hiring foreign workers without permits,” said Ishak.

Investigations revealed that the band members had entered the country as tourists and were granted social visit passes under the government’s visa-onarrival scheme to promote Visit Malaysia Year 2007.

“Their visas show that they are regulars here but we are examining the stamp on their passes to see if it is fake,” he said.

Ishak advised foreign bands to obtain special permits from the Immigration Department and from the Culture, Arts and Heritage Ministry before entering the country.

“Most club managements prefer to hire foreign performers as they are cheaper compared to local artistes but they should go through the proper channel.”

“It is better to be safe than sorry. We do not want to ruin a good night out with our raids,” he said.

It is a must for foreign performers to apply for the passes.

Without the passes, foreign performers are not allowed to perform or appear in any event.

He said those detained in the raid face charges under Section 33(b) and Section 55 of the Immigration Act 1959/63.

If found guilty, they can be fined up to RM10,000 or jailed up to five years, or both.

Source: The Malay Mail

Sorry, I am lazy : Supermarket Reprimanded

A SUPERMARKET’S method of reprimanding a foreign worker over his handling of shoppers got a regular customer all riled up.
A Belgian expatriate said he was stunned when he saw the employee standing near the entrance of the Sri Kota Supermarket in Taman Danau Desa, Petaling Jaya, on Dec 11, with a cardboard sign with the words ‘Sorry, I am Lazy’ hanging from his neck.

The Belgian took a picture of the worker and e-mailed it to Weekend Mail last week.

“It’s a shame this happened. No way would you see something like this in Brussels, London or Paris,” he said.

On Friday, Pasaraya SJ Kota Sdn Bhd expressed regret over the incident the same day it submitted a report to the Labour Department.

The department had instructed the company to do so on Wednesday.

KUALA LUMPUR: A supermarket’s tactic of reprimanding a foreign worker for his unprofessionalism has backfi red.

A Belgian expatriate was stunned on Dec 11 when he saw the employee, clad in the store’s uniform, standing at the entrance with a cardboard sign that said, ‘Sorry, I am Lazy’, around his neck.

He took a picture and emailed it to Weekend Mail.

“It was humiliating (for the employee) and tarnishes Malaysia’s image,” he wrote in his e-mail.

“The supermarket is located in the heart of Kuala Lumpur and many expatriates who live there shop there.”

He said he saw the worker at 10am in front of the Sri Kota Supermarket in Taman Danau Desa, Petaling Jaya.

He added that the worker stood there for half an hour with the sign around his neck.

The supermarket, he said, was open for business and there were many passers-by.

“It’s a shame this had to happen. No way would you see something like this in Brussels, London or Paris.

“It’s time we treat foreign workers better. This is not what we want our children to see.”

He said such incidents should not happen here as the country places a lot of importance on values.

Pasaraya SJ Kota Sdn Bhd expressed regret over the incident the same day it submitted a report to the Labour Department. The department instructed the company to do so on Wednesday.

This came about after Weekend Mail visited its Taman Danau Desa outlet and contacted Labour Department (Peninsular Malaysia) director-general Datuk Ismail Abdul Rahim on Monday.

“It’s unbecoming for an employer to behave this way. They can’t even call themselves Malaysian employers if they behave in such a manner,” Ismail said.

“There are proper ways to discipline employees and procedures to follow when doing so, and employers must abide by them.”

He said the department will look into the incident and if found guilty, the supermarket could be blacklisted from hiring foreign workers.

“Such actions damage the country’s image.”

When approached, the supermarket worker in question, who identified himself as Salim from Bangladesh, seemed nervous and was taken aback when shown the picture of him with the sign around his neck.

Salim’s job requires him to carry and sort out boxes, and to clean up, among others. He barely spoke or understood English.

“I learning,” was all he could say when asked about the incident.

Source: The Malay Mail

Teenager with a heart of gold robbed

DO unto others as you would have them do unto you.

This is the saying which an 18-year-old, who only wishes to be known as Tan, lives by.

Despite his busy schedule as an accountancy student in a college in Sunway, Tan, from Bangsar, still manages to spare two hours once a week to teach English and Maths for free to poor students at an outreach centre in Sri Sentosa, Jalan Klang Lama.

However, his good deeds went unrecognised as he was robbed by two men while he was about to teach a class last Tuesday.

The incident occurred when he was climbing a flight of stairs for an 8pm class where he tutors some 25 students.

Relating his ordeal, Tan said his path was blocked by a man in his 20s. He said the man had confronted him before calling an accomplice, who arrived armed with a cleaver.

“The duo made it clear that all they wanted was money. So I handed them my wallet containing RM310 and my cell phone.

“At the time, I wasn’t scared but I felt life was more precious than anything else,” he said, adding that the robbery took place 10m away from the door.

Despite being shook up over his close encounter, Tan chose to carry on teaching the class that night.

“I decided not to reveal what had happened as I did not want to scare my students. As it is, crimes are rampant in the area.

“I only hope the police will step up patrols for the safety of residents,” he said.

Tan, who hails from a well-to-do family, said tutoring was a way for him to contribute to society.

“Moreover, I am contemplating being a teacher, so this is good practice,” said Tan modestly.

He said the incident won’t deter him from tutoring.

“Nothing will stop me from helping these kids. I am even more determined to help them to excel academically,” said Tan.

Source: The Malay Mail

Card retrieved at last

AT last, the long wait is over.

The SIM card, which an Indonesian woman (picture) swallowed when she was picked up in connection with the murder of Nurin Jazlin Jazimin, was fl ushed out at noon yesterday.

The card is believed to be at the forensics department to be analysed.

The 23-year-old suspect had undergone an X-ray at 9am and the card was detected near the anus.

It is learnt that doctors used special equipment to pull out the SIM card.

The woman, who refused to eat and was on a liquid diet during the fi ve-day stay at University Malaya Medical Centre, was discharged at 12.30pm.

She was taken to the Petaling Jaya magistrate’s court, handcuffed and guarded by two policewomen, at 3pm.

Magistrate Izralizam Sanusi granted a six-day extension on her remand order.

IT’S finally out.

The SIM card, which an Indonesian woman swallowed when she was picked up in connection with Nurin’s murder case, was fl ushed out at noon yesterday.

The card is believed to be with forensics for analysis.

It is learnt that doctors had to use special equipment to pull out the SIM card from her anus.

The 23-year-old suspect was on a liquid diet during her five-day stay at University Malaya Medical Centre.

She had undergone an X-ray examination at 9am, which detected the card near the anus.

The woman, who appeared healthy, was discharged at 12.30pm.

She was later seen walking towards the Petaling Jaya magistrate’s court, handcuffed and escorted by two policewomen, at 3pm.

She was then taken to Petaling Jaya police headquarters.

It is learnt that the suspect was admitted to the hospital in a wheelchair.

Magistrate Izralizam Sanusi granted a six-day extension on the remand order.

Selangor police chief Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar declined to comment while Federal police CID director Datuk Christopher Wan Soo Kee could not be reached.

Checks showed that two telecommunication service providers offered data back-up services.

One telco provides back-up for SIM card contents, such as phone numbers, SMS and MMS while the other provider only incorporates phone numbers.

The arrest of the woman came after police picked up four men and a pregnant woman in Section 7, Shah Alam, on Sept 27.

The pregnant woman was released on the same day after police recorded her statement while the four were released unconditionally on Monday, a few days before their remand order ended.

Police said the suspects were released as they have no connection to the case and had given their full co-operation in the investigation.

The Indonesian is the only suspect in custody to help them in the investigation.

Police have released two photofi ts of a man and a woman whom they believe can shed light on the case.

The man is 168cm tall, 35-40 years of age with short hair and a thin moustache.

He was said to have been looking for a room to rent in the Bangsar area for himself and his daughter.

The woman, in her 20s, was last seen in a red T-shirt. She is 153cm tall and has shoulderlength hair.

She was seen at the same spot in Petaling Jaya the day before the sports bag containing Nurin’s body was found on Sept 17.

Nurin, a Year Two pupil of Sekolah Rendah Kebangsaan Desa Setapak, was reported missing on Aug 20.

Those with information on the case can contact 03-21159999 or the nearest police station.

Source: The Malay Mail

Five arrested in connection with Nurin's murder

SHAH ALAM: Five people including a woman have been arrested in connection with the murder of eight-year-old Nurul Jazlin Jazimin here on Thursday.

A team of police officers from the Petaling Jaya and Selangor police at about 11.30pm picked up the five aged between 27 and 33 from several locations in Section 7 here.

It is learnt one of the five, a man in his 30s, has a string of criminal records including sexual assault cases here and in several other states.

CID director Commissioner Datuk Christopher Wan Soo Kee said the arrests were made possible following information from the public.

"Two cars and five cellular phones were seized from the suspects,'' he said, adding that they were detained to assist police in their investigation into the murder of Nurin Jazlin.

The arrest of the five is the first major breakthrough police have made since Nurin Jazlin was first reported missing from her Wangsa Maju flat on Aug 20.

Police have been working tirelessly to nab the killer/s and have reopened several old cases with similar modus operandi to narrow down their suspects.

Nurin Jazlin went missing on Aug 20 after she went to a night market by herself near her house in Section 1, Wangsa Maju, in Setapak.

Her body was found stuffed in a sports bag at a three-storey shop lot in Petaling Utama on Sept 17.

A post-mortem showed that she had been sexually assaulted.

Source: The Star Online

Update:

BREAKING NEWS: Four remanded in connection with Nurin's murder

Police obtained a seven-day remand order for the four male suspects to facilitate investigations. The four suspects, aged between 27 and 33, were picked up by members of a task force at various locations in Shah Alam to facilitate investigations into Nurin’s brutal death.

The fifth suspect, a pregnant woman, has been released after police recorded her statement.

The four men were earlier taken to the Kuala Lumpur Hospital where they underwent physical check-up before being taken to the Petaling Jaya Magistrate Court.

The Criminal Scene Investigation (CSI) team also went to a single-storey terrace house in Taman Kampung Kuantan in Klang, before proceeding to a double-storey shophouse in Section 7 in Shah Alam.

The Klang address belongs to the couple detained while the shophouse is where they run their textile business.

Source: The New Straits Times

Other Story:

FBI to assist in probe

THE United States’s Federal Bureau of Investigation have been called in to help police with the probe into the murder of eight-year-old Nurin Jazlin Jazimin.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan said an FBI agent is already in Kuala Lumpur while another will arrive soon.

It is learnt that the blurry images of a suspect caught on CCTV where the body was dumped will be sent to the FBI lab at the J. Edgar Hoover Building in 935 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, DC, to be enhanced.

“They are helping us with the investigation, especially on the technical side of the probe,” he said.POLICE have enlisted the help of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in the Nurin Jazlin Jazimin murder case.

It is learnt that the blurred images of a suspect caught on CCTV cameras where the body was dumped will be sent to the FBI lab at the J. Edgar Hoover Building in Washington, DC, to be enhanced.

An FBI agent is in Kuala Lumpur while another will arrive soon, said Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan yesterday.

“They are helping us with the investigation, especially on the technical side,” he said, adding that the images have been handed over to the agent, who is based at the US Embassy in Kuala Lumpur.

“The CCTV footage we have is blurry. We hope the FBI will be able to sharpen the images.” Once the image is enhanced, police will come up with a photofi t.

Musa said a local police offi cer will accompany the agents to the FBI laboratory.

“We recently contacted an FBI representative stationed here and they agreed to help,” he said.

He reiterated that police are working on several leads but declined to elaborate further.

Musa told reporters this after presenting Hari Raya goodies to police personnel at Federal police headquarters in Bukit Aman yesterday.

It was reported that police have retrieved images of two possible suspects from a CCTV camera close to where Nurin was found.

One of them is a motorcyclist with a sports bag while the other is a petite woman in a red top, who left the area with three men in a Perodua Kenari.

Nurin was reported missing after visiting a pasar malam near her house in Section 1, Wangsa Maju on Aug 20.

Her body was found stuffed in a sports bag that had been dumped in front of a book distribution company in PJS 1/48, Petaling Jaya Utama on Sept 17.

Post-mortem on her remains showed that she had been sexually assaulted with a brinjal and a cucumber.

She died from infection as the objects had ruptured her abdomen.

Nurin was buried at the Taman Ibukota Muslim cemetery last Friday.

A source said the Bernama journalist who reported that a suspect had been detained in connection with the case will give his statement at Sentul police station today.

It was reported yesterday that police had denied the report, calling it ‘irresponsible’.

Source: The Malay Mail

Related story: NEWS FLASH: DNA confirms body found in bag is Nurin

New lead in Nurin’s case

IN a chilling development in the Nurin Jazlin Jazimin case, it is learnt that a man had approached another girl in August and asked her to follow him.

The girl refused.

On Aug 20, Nurin went missing.

Two days ago, a distraught mother lodged a report at the Wangsa Maju police station, claiming that her six-year-old daughter was approached by a man at a pasar malam in Setapak in August. He had invited her to feed cats at a mining pool.

City police Criminal Investigations Department chief Senior Assistant Commissioner II Ku Chin Wah said the modus operandi was similar to that of the Kampung Baru molester who had sexually assaulted two girls, aged fi ve and six.

He said police have a photofi t of the suspect, based on descriptions given by the six-year-old girl.

POLICE received another breakthrough in their investigations into the death of Nurin Jazilin Jazimin.

Two days ago, a distraught mother lodged a police report at Wangsa Maju station claiming that her six-yearold daughter was approached by a man in August who invited her to go feed cats at a mining pool somewhere.

The girl was at a pasar malam in Setapak when the man approached her.

She refused and walked away. The girl told her mother about it but she brushed it off. The woman was disturbed when she read about the gruesome discovery on Sept 17 and decided to lodge a report.

It is not known if the girl was alone or with someone else when the man approached her.

City police Criminal Investigations Department chief Senior Assistant Commissioner II Ku Chin Wah confi rmed the report, adding that the modus operandi was similar to that of the Kampung Baru molester who had sexually assaulted two girls, aged fi ve and six.

He said police have a photofi t of the suspect, drawn by artists based on descriptions given by the sixyear- old girl.

Ku said they are trying to establish a connection between the man, the Kampung Baru molester and the suspect involved in Nurin’s murder.

On June 29, it was reported that a girl who was waiting for her mother in front of the Kampung Baru Mosque after a religious class was taken away by a man on a black motorcycle. She was later found wandering the same day.

Investigations revealed that the man, clad in a black jacket and wearing a helmet, had sexually assaulted her with a brinjal before releasing her.

Three days later, another girl, aged six, was plucked from Jalan Raja Bot, in front of her father’s grocery shop and taken to an undisclosed location.

She was also sexually assaulted with a brinjal.

Nurin, an eight-year-old girl from Wangsa Maju was reported missing by her father, Jazimin Abdul Jalil, on Aug 20 after visiting a pasar malam near her house.

She was alone.

Despite the wide coverage and a massive search effort, she was not found.

On Sept 17, the naked body of a young girl, stuffed inside a sports bag which was dumped in Jalan PJS 1/48, was later identifi ed as Nurin.

She had been brutally assaulted and a post-mortem revealed that the assailant had sexually assaulted her with a brinjal and a cucumber.

The force was so great that it ruptured her stomach and an infection led to her death.

It was reported that Selangor police have blurry images of a suspect caught on a CCTV close to where the body was found.

The suspect was seen carrying a similar bag, placing it near the staircase.

Source: The Malay Mail

China doll cons retiree of RM20,000

FORMER restaurant helper Fung Chee Lum @ Fung Thin had more than breakfast one day in May last year.

As the 75-year-old sipped black coffee in a shop in Petaling Street that morning, a China national approached him and asked him to be her boyfriend.

Shocked, Fung from Puchong, was at first reluctant, citing the fact that he was old, married and had children, although he was not living with his wife.

The 34-year-old, nicknamed Xiao Mao, was persistent and almost every day when Fung had breakfast at the shop, she would be there to woo him.

It was not long before Xiao Mao managed to charm Fung and they became a couple.

Their relationship was a bed of roses until recently, when Fung discovered that not only had Xiao Mao cheated him of his heart, but also more than RM20,000.

Speaking at the MCA Public Services and Complaint Department yesterday, Fung said in January, Xiao Mao went missing.

That was when a man, known as Lau, told him that Xiao Mao had been caught by police for prostitution and was detained at the Semenyih camp.

Sounding helpful, Lau assured Fung that he could help secure her release. But the favour came with a condition — Lau wanted money.

Fung believed Lau because he loved Xiao Mao and was worried about her safety.

For seven months, Fung regularly gave Lau money amounting to RM20,000.

Lau claimed he was well connected with the Immigration Department and he could secure Xiao Mao’s release.

“But Xiao Mao never came back and it dawned on me that I have been cheated.

“They are lovers and had conspired.

“My friends have seen them walking together in Petaling Street and I heard they are now in Penang,” said Fung, adding that Lau’s cell phone has been switched off.

If losing his girlfriend was not bad enough, Fung said he was also lambasted by his friends for believing Xiao Mao and Lau.

“I don’t understand why they did this to me. I loved her and I believed every lie Lau told me.

“Not only have I lost my love, I have also lost RM20,000, which I saved up for my funeral expenses,” said Fung in tears.

Sounding troubled and disheartened, Fung said all he wanted was for Lau to return the money.

Fung said his wife and children are aware of the incident but they could not be bothered.

Source: The Malay Mail

4 held over education officer’s murder

COULD he have died over a mere RM100? This is the latest twist in the murder case of Education Ministry assistant director Rashid Sait, who was found stabbed in his home on Aug 14.

Police believe that the amount could have been the source of a misunderstanding between Rashid and the murder suspect.

It is learnt that the suspect, a man in his 20s, fi rst met Rashid in Bandar Sri Permaisuri several months ago. They have been in contact since then and the suspect is believed to have borrowed money from the victim.

The source claimed that on Aug 11, the suspect was believed to have gone to the victim’s unit at Desa Tun Razak Apartment in Cheras.

Rashid is believed to have picked up the suspect at the Bandar Tasik Selatan LRT station after getting a phone call from the latter. En route to the house, they stopped at a fast-food outlet.

It is learnt that at the house, Rashid had asked for his RM100.

The conversation, however, turned into a heated argument.

Since then, the suspect, an employee with an event management company, had gone into hiding in Malacca.

However, following a tip-off, police arrested him and his three friends, all in their 20s, at a bus stop in Masjid Tanah on Tuesday at 3pm.

Cheras police chief Assistant Commissioner Rusli Ahmad (picture) said the four, two of whom are women, were in the victim’s car.

“The Hyundai Atos bore a false number plate. There were several items found with the suspects which were linked to the case,” Rusli told a Press conference yesterday.

None of the four, he said, had a criminal record.

“They are from Malacca but work as odd-job workers in Kuala Lumpur,” he said.

Rusli said although there was no sign of forced entry at the victim’s house, police believe robbery could have been the motive behind the murder.

“There were signs of a fi ght.

“We believe the case has been solved. We are wrapping up the loose ends in the probe before we submit the investigation paper to the deputy public prosecutor’s offi ce,” he said.

Rusli also ruled out the theory that the main suspect was the victim’s mysterious house mate, as claimed by a neighbour.

“He (the suspect) was also not the man who owns a cleaning service company that serviced the deceased’s offi ce in Bukit Kiara.

“They were just helping us with the investigation,” he said.

The four are being remanded until next Wednesday.

Rashid, 37, an Education Technology Division resource management assistant director, was found dead with stab wounds by his colleague at 1.05pm last Tuesday.

The colleague had gone to check on the bachelor at the apartment after he did not turn up for work on Monday.

Police found an eight-inch long knife in the living room, believed to be the murder weapon. There were traces of blood on it.

They also found paper cups and a fast-food box in the house, suggesting that the victim had received guests. The apartment was not ransacked.

A post-mortem revealed that the victim was stabbed four times — on the left and middle sections of his abdomen, as well as on his left arm. His left hand was also slashed.

There were no defensive wounds on the body.

Source: The Malay Mail


Update 1:

Gay lover held over man’s murder

KUALA LUMPUR: The government officer found dead in his apartment in Cheras last week was believed to have been murdered over a RM100 debt.

The suspect, who was arrested yesterday, is also believed to be the victim, Rashid Sait’s gay lover.

Rashid, 37, the assistant director of the technology division of the Kuala Lumpur Education Department, is believed to have met the suspect at an infamous gay haunt in Cheras a few months ago.

They saw each other on several occasions including on Aug 11, when Rashid was last seen alive.

That was also the day when the two bought a meal from a fast-food outlet on the south-bound R&R restaurant near the Sungai Besi toll plaza before proceeding to the victim’s unit at the Desa Tun Razak apartments here.
Rashid was found dead with stab wounds on his chest three days later by two of his colleagues who went to check on him after he failed to turn up for work.

Yesterday, Cheras police chief ACP Rusli Ahmad said they had arrested a man believed to be the main suspect in the murder. Also arrested was his girlfriend and another couple. All four were driving Rashid’s Hyundai Atos car which was fitted with false number plates.

The suspects were detained at a bus stop in Masjid Tanah, Malacca about 3pm on Tuesday. Rusli said all four suspects are from the same village in Malacca.

Police also found some of Rashid’s personal belongings on the suspects.

"The main suspect is a part-time worker in the entertainment industry," Rusli said.

Rusli also confirmed that the man, said to be in his 20s, had known Rashid and that they had gotten into a fight over some money which was owed to the victim. All four suspects have been remanded for eight days to facilitate investigations.

"We believe the case is now solved," Rusli said.

Police had all along believed that Rashid was murdered by someone whom he knew as there was no sign of a break-in at his apartment unit.

There were also signs that victim had shared a meal with the assailant or assailants.

Rashid’s apartment was not ransacked. His wallet was left intact but his car was missing.

Police also found several long-haired wigs, blouses and bras in the apartment, leading police to believe that the victim was a cross-dresser.

A knife, which was believed to be the murder weapon, was also found in the unit.

Source: The New Straits Times

Driver had 13 summonses, two arrest warrants

THE Super Ekspres bus involved in the worst crash in the country’s history at Km229 of the North-South Expressway in Bukit Gantang near Taiping yesterday, had been issued with 19 summonses since 1991.

The driver, Rohizan Abu Bakar, 38, who was among 19 people who died in the crash, had 13 summonses and two arrest warrants in his name for various traffic offences, Taiping OCPD ACP Raja Musa Raja Razak said yesterday.

He said the bus, belonging to Taipingbased Syarikat Kenderaan Bukit Gantang Sdn Bhd, was registered in 1987 and passed Puspakom’s inspection in May.

The freak accident should serve as a reminder to all drivers to be careful, especially at night, Raja Musa said.

“Driving at night affects our focus if we are tired and there is little traffic on the road. In today’s (yesterday) incident, there was a slight incline but no tyre marks,” he said.

The cause of the crash is being investigated, Raja Musa said.

Source: The Malay Mail

No permit for fatal run

THE bus which crashed in the early hours of Monday — killing 20 people — did not have a permit for the run from Malacca to Butterworth.

Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board chairman Datuk Markiman Kobiran said the bus, which was a replacement for another bus which broke down, did not have a permit for the route.

“The company did not submit an application to CVLB for any permit,” said Markiman when contacted by The Malay Mail yesterday.

Markiman said if the company had submitted an application, approval would have taken less than an hour. The bus only had a permit for the Johor Baru to Kuala Terengganu run.

“Any bus company which does not have a travelling permit may risk having their operating permit revoked,” said Markiman.

However, Markiman stressed that having the permit is not the main concern in this case.

“We are more concerned about the condition of the bus and whether it was roadworthy,” Markiman said, adding that investigators are already in Perak to sift through the wreckage for clues.

“The full report of the investigation into the accident may be ready in two days. I can’t comment on the cause of accident without the report,” he said.

The company, Syarikat Kenderaan Bukit Gantang Sdn Bhd, was issued with a notice at noon yesterday to suspend operations.

Its 34 buses will not be allowed to operate until further notice.

“We have instructed Transnasional to ferry the passengers who had already bought tickets from the company,” said Markiman.

At 4.30am yesterday, a bus travelling from Malacca to Butterworth was involved in an accident.

Twenty people were killed and nine others injured; making it the worst bus crash in the country’s history.

The accident took place at Km229 of the North-South Expressway in Bukit Gantang, Taiping. The bus was said to have gone down an incline when it crashed through the railing on the side of the road and plunged into a ditch five metres below.

The driver of the bus, Rohizan Abu Bakar, 38, was among those dead. He was from Taman Seri Petaling, Kulim, Kedah.

Also killed was an Indonesian, H. Abu Bakar, who was from Medan, Sumatra.

An unidentified three-year-old child was critically injured and has been admitted to Taiping Hospital.

Among those injured were two Vietnamese nationals and a Nepali.

Taiping police chief ACP Raja Musa Raja Razak said that the high death toll was due to the bus being badly smashed.

The roof was sheared clean off in the incident.

This caused several of the passengers to be flung out and others trapped in the vehicle.

He said Fire and Rescue personnel who rushed to the scene removed some of the injured passengers, administered first aid and sent them to Taiping Hospital, 20 km away.

“They had to use a crane to lift the wreckage to remove the trapped bodies,” said Raja Musa.

Source: The Malay Mail

Bus of death

TAIPING: One of the country's worst road accidents, which occurred in the wee hours of yesterday on the North-South Expressway near here, was a disaster waiting to happen.

The driver had 13 traffic summonses - some still outstanding - and two warrants of arrest

against him while the 20-year-old bus, which also had 19 summonses, did not even have the permit to ply the route.

The passengers of the bus, bound for Alor Star from Malacca, never stood a chance against such a poor record - 19 of them were killed along with the 37- year-old driver. Nine others including a three-yearold boy are in hospital, some in critical condition.

The bus company has been ordered to cease operations immediately.

Source: The Star Online

FM is highlighting this story not because it is funny. It is indeed a great tragedy which can be easily avoided and FM wishes to extend deepest condolence to the family affected by this horrendous tragedy. Despite the promises to crack down on errant drivers and bus company, similar accidents involving countless victims continue to occur. Most people may say, we are all saying this on hindsight, but this sort tragedy on the road in respect of bus crashes have becoming a common incident. What puzzles me the most is why the bus driver is able or allowed to continue driving despite the fact that he had 13 summonses and two arrest warrants in his name for various traffic offences. There must be a mechanism in place to penalise bus company for allowing 'unfit' driver from continuing being employed. Only then, bus company will be conscioused of its responsibility to the public.

Past bus tragedies

July 31, 2006

Twelve pilgrims on the way to St Anne’s Feast were killed when a chartered bus crashed at the 160th kilometre of the North-South Expressway near Nibong Tebal. Thirty-five others were injured.

Dec 1, 2003

Fourteen passengers were killed in an early morning collision involving two buses – a school bus which was converted for commercial use and an express bus – at the 63rd kilometre of the Kuala Lipis-Merapoh trunk road. Twenty-three others were injured.

April 21, 2001

Twelve women and a boy were killed when a bus skidded and crashed into a ditch off the Pengkalan Hulu-Baling road near Baling.

Jan 15, 2001

Nine people were killed and five seriously injured when an express bus and a

trailer lorry collided head-on at the 24th kilometre of the Sarikei-Sibu road during heavy rain.

Dec 22, 1999

A Mutiara express bus caught fire after plunging into a ravine at Kampung Bayu in Paloh, near Gua Musang killing three passengers and injuring eight.

July 16, 1996

A bus, ferrying a group of factory workers and their families on a holiday excursion, plunged into a 120m-deep ravine near the Genting Highlands Resort, killing 17 of them. Six were children.

Source: The Star Online

Body-in-fridge murder suspect released

The sole suspect in the body-in-the-fridge case found in Mont Kiara was released today. The 34-year-old Sarawakian woman was released under police bail.

City CID chief SAC II Ku Chin Wah said police received instructions from the DPP to release her as her remand expires today. "Investigations will continue and more people will be questioned to assist in investigations," he said.

The woman’s remand order had already been extended twice. She had been in custody since July 29.


Source: The Star Online


Story 2:

Psychiatric evaluation sought for woman in chopped up body parts case

KUALA LUMPUR: The lawyer of the 33-year-old woman detained in connection with the body parts in fridge case wants her to be sent for psychiatric evaluation.

Mah Weng Kwai, the woman's lawyer, said he made the request to the police through the court for the second time Monday when magistrate Nazran Mohd Sham extended her remand to last until tomorrow.

The lawyer first made the request last Tuesday when the woman was first remanded but so far, it had not been entertained.

Mah, who appeared together with his son Raymond Mah for the woman, said that he had read in an English tabloid that his client was said to be “not stable”.

“I don’t know if that is correct because it’s just a newspaper report. That’s why it’s crucial for us to determine her state of mind at the time of the alleged offence and now.”

Mah added that under Section 342 of the Criminal Procedure Code, counsel could apply to the court to refer an accused person for psychiatric evaluation.

“If the police don’t want to do the evaluation, then charge her so I can make a formal application in court,” he said.

Mah, who said his client appeared “worn out, tired and terribly frightened” during the proceedings, also appealed to the press not to subject her to a trial by the media.

“I don’t know who the sources are but I think it’s not right to publish diagrams showing how the body was cut up. “We should reserve the evidence until the case is heard in court,” he said in reference to the coverage by some Chinese newspapers.

Mah said the police were keeping the case very “tight” as he had still not been given access to his client despite her weeklong remand.

“We managed to hand her some clothes that she requested for last Thursday when she was brought to her mother’s house in Putra Heights,” the lawyer said, adding that the police had also seized her car, believed to be a Proton Wira.

“She’s very, very nervous.”

On July 29, a man who bought a condominium unit through an auction made a gruesome discovery when he went to the 19th floor unit to clean it up after receiving the keys just two days earlier.

He smelt a strong stench when he opened the door and immediately called the security guards of the condominium, located in the posh Mont Kiara area.

The guards searched the unit and found the body parts of an unidentified man chopped into 11 pieces inside a refrigerator.

The deceased was later identified as a 39-year-old Singaporean businessman named Goh Yoke Seng.

His family has since claimed and cremated his remains.

Source: The Star Online


Story 3:

Insight into woman murder suspect

KUALA LUMPUR: A 33-year-old woman, who is the prime suspect in the “body parts” murder has been described as a gentle and soft-spoken. She also had not given any impression that she was married.

This was how a source and her mother described the suspect implicated in the murder of Singaporean Goh Yoke Seng, 39, reported Singapore’s Sunday Ti-mes.

City police had detained the woman after the 11 pieces of the body parts of Goh, a businessman, were found stuffed inside a refrigerator in a Mont Kiara condominium last Sunday.

The source, a woman in her late 30s, told the newspaper that “I didn’t know she was married. I always thought she was single because we never met the husband.”

In March last year, the source and her husband had bought a two-storey terrace house in Subang Jaya that belonged to the suspect, her mother and younger brother.

The couple had been renting the house since 2005, and liked it so much that they decided to buy it for about RM200,000.

Sunday Times reported the source as saying the suspect was “very nice, very gentle and a soft-spoken person.”

“When she was detained, I was shocked to hear about it. I can’t imagine anyone like her being involved in something like this.”

The source said she had spoken to the suspect many times over the telephone, “but met her only once when my husband and I were buying the house.”

The newspaper reported that the source knew the suspect’s mother only as ‘Madam Cheah’ and said she was a divorcee, either in her 50s or 60s.

Cheah’s former neighbour in Subang Jaya, a man in his 50s, said the family kept to themselves but the suspect would visit her mother from time-to-time.

He said that Cheah, who lived next door to him from the 1990s to 2005, worked for an airline company.

The suspect, whose identity has been withheld as she has not been charged with any crime, is be-lieved to be an air stewardess.

She has been in police custody since last Sunday, when she turned herself in to the police.

The condominium's new owner and his sister found Goh's highly decomposed body parts, which were packed in five garbage bags and sealed with masking tape in the fridge when they went there to tidy up the unit, which he had bought at a bank auction.

Meanwhile, Goh’s ashes were taken back to Singapore yesterday.

Goh’s family did not turn up at the Cheras crematorium to collect the ashes. Instead, they instructed the undertaker to hand the ashes to a relative about 8.30am.

The ashes, packed in a jar, were said to have been couriered to Sing-apore.

Goh’s mother and brother, who claimed the businessman's remains on Saturday, are believed to have flown back to Singapore yesterday morning.

Source: The Star Online


Story 4:

Cops still probing body-in-fridge case

KUALA LUMPUR: Police do not rule out the possibility that more than one person were involved in the murder of a 39-year-old Singaporean man.

City CID chief Senior Asst Comm (II) Ku Chin Wah said that although the prime suspect had been detained, police were still gathering evidence and would pick up more people to assist in their probe.

“To us, the case is pretty much solved with the arrest of a 33-year-old Sarawakian woman, who is the victim’s wife. She has confessed the crime to us. But if we find new leads to show there were more people involved, then we will track them down,” SAC Ku said, but declined to comment on the motive for the killing.

He revealed that DNA tests confirmed that the deceased was one Goh Yoke Seng.

Police obtained blood samples from Goh’s mother and brother in Johor Baru on Wednesday. The results were received at 4pm yesterday.

Asked when Goh was believed to have been murdered, SAC Ku said: “Goh was not murdered recently. This is not a recent incident.”

He also refused to confirm if Goh was chopped into 11 pieces as reported earlier.

However, he confirmed that the murder weapon was found.

SAC Ku also did not reveal if the victim’s wife had lived at the posh condominium in Mont Kiara after Goh was murdered in the same place.

He said Goh and his wife were married here in 2002 and lived here since. The couple have no children.

Last Sunday, a man who bought the condominium in an auction made the gruesome discovery of Goh's body. The owner, in his 30s, had gone to clean the unit on the 19th floor and alerted security guards when he opened the condominium door and smelt a strong stench.

Security guards who searched the unit found body parts in a refrigerator, which had been sealed with masking tape.

The place had been vacant for more than three months and the man, who only received the keys last Friday, decided to clean up the property with his sister at about 3pm.

At the scene, police found a photocopy of a driving licence belonging to a woman named Nora Jawi Spreen Jawi, whose last known address was USJ2/4D, Subang Jaya.

Source: The Star Online

Related Story: Condo owners find body parts in fridge

The Plot Thickens: Samy's son denies rumours over actress' death

KUALA LUMPUR: Businessman S. Vell Paari, the son of MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu, has refuted claims linking him to the death of a local Indian drama actress.

"Whilst there is no truth in the allegations, the intent of the person or persons responsible is clear, to abet certain politicians (in getting) political mileage," he said in a statement. He was commenting on reports linking him to the death of K. Sujatha, 29, at Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital in Klang on June 25.

A Tamil newspaper had reported that she had died of a "mysterious illness." Her remains have since been cremated.

Sentul district OCPD ACP K Kumaran confirmed that police were investigating the case after a report was lodged at the Brickfields police station on July 23.

Vell Paari said that he was aware of several malicious and defamatory statements made about him in several of the Tamil dailies and by certain politicians.

"I will make clear these statements in a press conference in due course, timed with my instituting civil and criminal proceedings against the papers and the persons concerned," Vell Paari said.

Vell Paari said that he was cooperating with the authorities. It is believed he had given a statement to the police over the past few days.

Source: The Star Online


Update I: 3/8/2007

Death of actress: Minister’s son gives statements

KUALA LUMPUR: Police have recorded statements from a minister’s son in connection with the death of local Tamil actress K. Sujatha.

The statements were taken from the man, who is the chief executive officer of a company, at the Sentul police station on Tuesday and yesterday, according to a source.

"On both occasions, the man came to the police station and gave his statements.

"He was co-operative," the source added.

Police hope the statements would shed some light into the case.
Sujatha, 29, was also the man’s personal assistant.

The case was classified as sudden death.

However, police later said that there were some criminal elements linked to the case.

Sujatha, who had acted in several local Tamil drama and films, died at the Tengku Ampuan Rah- imah Hospital in Klang, Selangor on June 25 after she was admitted four days earlier.

She is believed to have taken paraquat, a poisonous herbicide.

Sujatha was found unconscious in her house by neighbours.

Sentul police chief Assistant Commissioner K. Kumaran said that police would be recording statements from several people, including her colleagues soon.

Source: The New Straits Times

Update II: 3/8/2007

Claims are untrue, says Samy’s son

KUALA LUMPUR: Businessman S. Vell Paari, the son of MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu, has refuted claims linking him to the death of a local Indian drama actress.

“Whilst there is no truth in the allegations, the intent of the person or persons responsible is clear, to abet certain politicians to get political mileage,” he said in a statement.

He was commenting on reports linking him to the death of K. Sujatha, 29, at the Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital in Klang on June 25.

Sentul district OCPD Asst Comm K. Kumaran had on July 23 confirmed that police were investigating the case after a report was lodged at the Brickfields police station about suspicions there could be foul play in her death.

Vell Paari said he was aware of malicious and defamatory statements made about him in several Tamil dailies.

“I will address these allegations in a press conference in due course.

“I also plan to take legal action against the papers and the persons concerned,” he added.

Vell Paari said he was already cooperating with all the authorities in the investigations.

It is believed that Vell Paari has given a statement to the police.

Source: The Star Online

Update III: 3/8/2007

Vell Paari to take legal action

S. VELL Paari, son of Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu, intends to sue several newspapers and individuals for allegedly making defamatory statements about him in relation to the death of his personal assistant.

“Several malicious and defamatory statements were made about me in several Tamil dailies and by unscrupulous politicians.

“Whilst there is no truth in the allegations, the intent of the person(s) responsible is clear, that is, to abet certain politicians to get political mileage,” he said in a statement yesterday.

The 44-year-old Maika Holdings chief executive officer also mentioned that he will co-operate with authorities to clear his name.

“My great regret is that in their tainted collateral agenda to obtain political mileage, these parties have maligned the reputation of Sujatha, the deceased, and caused great anguish as well as pain to her family.

“These persons are monsters with no regard for the innocent, and are prepared to go to any extent to propagate their malicious agenda against me at the expense of the deceased,” the statement reads.

Yesterday, it was reported that statements from a minister’s son was recorded by Sentul police on Tuesday and Wednesday.

It was also reported that he was co-operative and the statements would shed some light into the death of 29-year-old K. Sujatha, who was also an actress.

The case was classified as sudden death but police later said there were some criminal elements linked to the case.

Sujatha, who had acted in local Tamil dramas and films, died on June 25 at Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital in Klang after being admitted four days earlier.

She is believed to have swallowed paraquat, a poisonous herbicide, and was found unconscious in her house by neighbours.

Several people, including her colleagues, would soon be called by police to have their statements recorded.

Source: The Malay Mail

Background Story of this case:

Police probing foul play in actress’ death

PETALING JAYA: Investigations into the death of local Indian actress, K. Sujatha, has taken a new twist with police receiving a letter alleging foul play.

A member of an opposition political party handed the letter to police yesterday.

Sentul district police chief Asst Comm K. Kumaran said they are reinvestigating the case based on the new evidence. Initially, police had classified the case as sudden death.

Sujatha, 29, a former personal assistant to a Cabinet minister’s son, died at the Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital in Klang three days after she was admitted on June 25 for weedkiller poisoning.

Sujatha, who was a singer, had acted in several Tamil dramas, movies and commercials.

Her last acting stint was in Noorhalizah, which is scheduled to be released in two months.

The director of Noorhalizah, K. Sandosh, said he was told that Sujatha died of ovarian cancer.

“We were shocked by her death. She never showed any sign of suffering cancer,” he said.

Source: The Star Online

Police to investigate Sujata death

PETALING JAYA: Police will question several witnesses, including a son of a Cabinet Minister, in their investigations into the mysterious death of actress K. Sujatha.

Sentul OCPD K. Kumaran said they will be questioning family members, friends and relatives of Sujatha.

“We will also record statements from the Tengku Ampuan Rahimah hospital authorities and other witnesses,” he said yesterday.

Sujatha, 29, the former personal assistant to a Cabinet minister’s son, died at the Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital in Klang three days after she was admitted on June 25. She was believed to have swallowed weed killer in her apartment in Sentul.

Source: The Star Online

Condo owners find body parts in fridge

KUALA LUMPUR: A man and his sister made a grisly discovery when they opened the refrigerator at their new condominium yesterday; inside were 11 body parts of an adult male.
Forensic checks revealed the body was cut into pieces about a week ago. But no murder weapon was found at the 19th-floor condominium in Jalan Mont Kiara 2.

City police CID chief Senior Assistant Commissioner II Ku Chin Wah said the body parts were in five rubbish bags in the fridge, whose door had been sealed with masking tape.

The victim has not been identified.

Police found a driving licence belonging to a woman during a search of the condominium.
Ku said the woman, Nora Jawi Spreen Jawi, was from Sarawak. Her listed address was USJ2/4D in Subang Jaya.

The condominium’s new owners had gone to the place to clean it up. When they became aware of a stench from the fridge, they called the security guards.

The guards removed the tape from the fridge door and found the bags, which contained the body parts.

The condominium had been vacant for more than three months.

Ku said the new owners bought the unit through a bank auction and received the keys on Friday.

He said police are looking for the previous owner.



Source: The New Straits Times


Update I:

Body parts in fridge: Man killed a year ago

KUALA LUMPUR: Police believe the man who was found dismembered in a refrigerator at a condominium unit in Mont Kiara on Sunday had been killed a year ago.
Sources said he was believed to have been murdered by his wife, his body chopped up into 11 pieces and stuffed into five rubbish bags before being put into the refrigerator.

The door of the refrigerator was then sealed with tape.

City police CID chief SAC II Ku Chin Wah would only say police had detained a woman in connection with the case yesterday.

He said the woman, who is from Sarawak, was nabbed when she turned up at city police headquarters in Jalan Hang Tuah at 1pm after being contacted by police.
Sources, however, said that the woman was the deceased’s wife and police would seek a remand order against her today.

A source said the deceased, a 39-year-old businessman identified only as Goh, and his wife had been staying at the condominium since 2005.

He said the couple had financial problems and the condominium unit was eventually put up for auction last year.

Source: The New Straits Times


Update II:

IT was almost perfect. The ‘Butcher of Mont Kiara’ had done it nicely, cutting up the body of an unidentified victim into 11 parts before stuffing them into a refrigerator.

A source said police believe the murderer had used a very sharp weapon to cut the hands, legs and neck before placing the body parts into garbage bags.

The identity of the victim has yet to be ascertained as there were no documents found on the victim but police believe he could be the husband of the previous condo owner.

Yesterday, police detained a woman in connection with the case. She surrendered herself at Kuala Lumpur police headquarters in Jalan Hang Tuah.

The woman, who was dressed in red, arrived at the headquarters at 1pm. She was transferred to Brickfi elds police station two hours later.

Police were tight-lipped on the identity of the suspect but it is believed that she had stayed in the condo.

The condo unit was auctioned off for RM400,000 three months ago to a 30-year-old man who made the gruesome discovery on Sunday.

Police recovered a knife at the unit but have yet to determine if it was the murder weapon.

Investigators also found pictures of the previous owner and novels strewn all over.

The Malay Mail also learnt that a neighbour had complained about the foul smell coming from the unit but nothing was done.

“I understand a complaint was lodged but I don’t know with whom. The stench had caused uneasiness among neighbours,” said a security guard at a nearby apartment.

Kuala Lumpur Criminal Investigation Department chief, SAC II Ku Chin Wah, who confirmed the arrest, said the woman had been detained to help investigations.

“We believed the case will be solved soon,” he said.

Yesterday, The Malay Mail had reported that the new owner of the apartment was shocked to find a rotting corpse inside the fridge.

The man got his house keys on Friday.

The new owner, who was accompanied by his brother, went to the unit on the 19th floor to clean it when they found the body.

Source: The Malay Mail

Update III: 1/8/2007

Love triangle poser in body-parts-in-fridge case

KUALA LUMPUR: A love triangle? Police are looking into this possibility as they try to unravel the reason behind the murder of a man whose body was cut up into 11 pieces.
A woman, who was remanded for seven days from yesterday, is helping police in the probe. Sources said police were looking for the woman’s boyfriend to also help in investigations.

The 11 decomposed body parts were discovered in a refrigerator at a posh condominium in Mont Kiara on Sunday by a security guard.

"Investigations show the condominium was previously registered in the woman’s name. She comes from Sarawak," the source said.

"There is a possibility that a love triangle may have turned sour, resulting in the victim being killed before being carved up."
Post-mortem results reveal the cuts made to the body were clean and the sources described it as the work of a "semi-professional".

"All of the body’s internal organs, including the heart, liver, kidneys and intestines, were removed prior to it being stuffed in the refrigerator."

Police have not ruled out the possibility that the internal organs may have been removed to reduce the stench or that the organs may have spilled out as the body was cut up.

Police have also not found the knife or instrument used in cutting up the body.

City CID chief SAC II Ku Chin Wah said: "The suspect has been remanded for seven days starting from yesterday to help in investigations.

"We have yet to identify the body. We are doing a DNA test. But we will be liaising with our Singaporean counterparts."

The dead man is believed to have been a Singaporean.

It was reported that the body had been carved into 11 parts and kept in five rubbish bags inside a refrigerator at the 19th floor of a condominium in Jalan Mont Kiara 2.

A man and his sister, the condominium’s new owners, made the discovery after they went to the place to clean it up.

They had bought the unit in a bank auction and had received the keys on Friday.

Source: The New Straits Times

Update IV: 1/8/2007

Victim may be Singaporean

POLICE are looking into the possibility that the dismembered body found in a refrigerator at a posh condominium on Sunday is that of a 39-year-old Singaporean businessman, Goh Kok Seng.

While police were tightlipped on investigations into the gruesome murder, The Malay Mail learnt that it had contacted its Singapore counterparts to verify Goh’s status and whereabouts.

The identity of the body can only be confirmed once police get the DNA results from Kuala Lumpur Hospital.

News of the findings had sent Singapore media into a frenzy as they frantically checked possible leads and missing persons’ reports lodged in the last two years.

Singapore’s Crime Library founder Joseph Tan told The Malay Mail yesterday that a woman, Goh Seng Chun, had approached the organisation in 2005 to locate her missing brother, Goh Kok Seng.

He said when asked for a photograph and police report, she could not produce them.

She was told to lodge a police report and bring a copy of the report and photograph to the organisation before it could take up her case. Crime Library runs a free website to highlight criminal cases, including missing persons.

“She did not turn up,” he said. “The case, therefore, was filed away.” There were also two other cases involving two men with the same name.

The republic’s The New Paper yesterday sent its reporters to the homes of the three Gohs reported missing in 2005 but were told that their families no longer lived there.

On Sunday, a man’s body was found by the new owner of a Mont Kiara Bayu condominium, who bought it three months ago at an auction.

He bought the house for RM400,000 and got his house keys on Friday.

The new owner, who was accompanied by his brother, went to the unit on the 19th floor to clean it when they found the body, which had been cut into 11 pieces, and stuffed inside a refrigerator.

On Monday, a woman surrendered to Kuala Lumpur police. She has been remanded for seven days. It was learnt that the woman was the victim’s wife.

Kuala Lumpur Criminal Investigations Department chief SAC II Ku Chin Wah yesterday said police were working with their Singapore counterparts to locate the relatives of a man they believe could be the victim.

“We have contacted Singapore police to get the relatives’ DNA so that we can compare them with that of the victim’s.” Ku said no missing persons’ report had been lodged on the suspect’s husband.

He also declined to speculate on the possible motive for the murder.

“We are waiting for a report from the pathologist to determine the cause of death.” It was learnt that no one turned up at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital mortuary to claim the body yesterday.

Last night, based on the address on a driving licence found at the crime scene, The Malay Mail visited a house in USJ2 and was told that the female suspect who had turned herself in earlier, had sold the property one and a half years ago.

“She was very nice; softspoken.

It’s hard to believe that she could have had anything to do with the case,” said the new house owner.

The woman, who declined to be identified, said the suspect used to stay at the house with her mother and brother.

She said the house was sold for RM200,000.

Source: The Malay Mail

Update V: 2/8/2007

Cops find sharp object in body-in-fridge condo

KUALA LUMPUR: Police have recovered a sharp object believed to have been used in the murder of a 39-year-old Singaporean who was chopped into 11 pieces and stuffed inside a fridge at a posh condominium in Mont Kiara.

The object was recovered from the condominium.

Police, who were keeping mum on the kind of weapon that was recovered, have sent it to the Chemistry Department for analysis.

It is learnt that relatives of the man, who has been identified as Goh Yoke Seng, had given their blood samples to the authorities in Singapore yesterday for DNA analysis to confirm his identity.

It is also learnt that the blood samples will be sent to Malaysia today.

The man, who was reported missing in 2005, is believed to have been killed about a year ago.

Last Sunday, a man who had bought the condominium in an auction, made the gruesome discovery.

The owner, in his 30s, had gone to clean the condominium on the 19th floor.

The place had been vacant for more than three months and the man, who only received the keys last Friday, decided to clean up the property with his sister at about 3pm.

He suspected something amiss when he smelt a strong stench after opening the condominium door.

He called the security guards, who found the body parts in the refrigerator that had been sealed with masking tape.

At the scene, police found a photocopy of a driving licence belonging to a woman named Nora Jawi Spreen Jawi, whose last known address was USJ2/4D, Subang Jaya.

A 33-year-old woman has since been remanded over the murder.

Source: The Star Online

Update VI: 5/8/2007

Butchered Singaporean's remains claimed and cremated

The remains of a Singaporean who was murdered and had his body cut into pieces and stuffed into a refrigerator in a Mont Kiara apartment here were claimed by his family today.
The family, accompanied by three policemen from the Kuala Lumpur police contingent headquarters, arrived at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital morque to claim the body of Goh Kok Seng, 39.
Reporters were not allowed to interview the family.
Police brought a Taoist priest to the mortuary to perform the final rites. Goh’s family did not attend the prayers.
Goh was cremated at a Chinese crematorium in Cheras.
BERNAMA learnt that the family decided to cremate Goh here because his body was highly decomposed.
After the cremation, Goh’s family rushed into a waiting car, shielding their faces with jackets, to escape the Press.
Last Sunday, a man who bought the condominium in an auction made the gruesome discovery of Goh’s body.
The owner, in his 30s, had gone to clean the unit on the 19th floor and alerted security guards when he opened the condominium door and smelt a strong stench.
Security guards who searched the unit found body parts in a refrigerator which had been sealed with masking tape. The unit has been vacant for more than three months.
Kuala Lumpur CID chief SAC II Ku Chin Wah had said Goh and his wife were married here in 2002 and had lived here since. The couple have no children.
Police have arrested Goh's 33-year-old Sarawakian wife to help in investigations into the murder.

Source: The New Straits Times


Update VII: 6/8/2007

Another weapon seized from unit

POLICE have recovered another weapon from the Mont Kiara Bayu condominium where a body was found stuffed in a refrigerator.

They believe the weapon, could have been used in the murder of the man, whose identity has not been confirmed.

A police source confirmed the weapon was recovered on Tuesday night. When asked if it was a parang, the source said “maybe.” He also could not confi rm if the weapon was an axe or a cleaver.

The recovery was in addition to a knife seized from the condo on Sunday when the body — which was cut into 11 pieces was found.

It is learnt police are waiting for DNA samples from relatives of the victim in Singapore before they can confirm his identity.

Checks with the mortuary revealed no one had turned up to claim the body as of Press time.

Former neighbours of the suspect described her as pleasant. They would bump into her when she visited her mother’s house in USJ2/4D, Subang Jaya.

However, the 33-yearold woman was often heard quarrelling with her mother who is in her 50s.

“She was seldom home and was working in Singapore.

But her stay at her mother’s house, which was sold off 18 months ago, would always be marred by quarrels.

“However, we never interfered.” The neighbour, who declined to be identified, said the suspect was normally at the house during the holidays, especially Christmas.

“We don’t know much about her. As far as I know, the mother had been living there since the house was completed in 1990,” she said.

The couple, who bought the house from the suspect, said the property had three names, including the suspect. The bank loan had been settled.

“We met the suspect once or twice to clinch the deal.

She looked pleasant,” said the husband.

He said police had contacted him on Monday, asking him to record a statement.

“But since I was working, I could not make it. Later, I was told that there was no need,” he said, adding that he only learned about the arrest in the newspapers the next day.

A man, who had bought the condo where the body was found, had gone to the unit to clean it up when he made the gruesome find.

The body parts were placed in garbage bags and stored in the refrigerator. Police believe the body had been there more than a year.

It was reported that the body could be that of a 39- year-old Singaporean, Goh Kok Seng, said to be the suspect’s husband.

The suspect, who had completed an information technology study programme in the United States, had surrendered to police on Monday after her picture was published in the newspapers.

Police obtained a remand order for her until Aug 6.

Source: The Malay Mail

Update VII: 7/8/2007

Remand order extended

THE 33-year-old woman held in connection with the murder of her husband, whose body was found chopped into 11 pieces and stuffed inside a fridge more than a week ago, did not have her mother’s blessing when she entered into a relationship with the victim.

The suspect’s father, who was present at the Kuala Lumpur magistrate’s court yesterday when police obtained a three-day extension on his daughter’s remand order, said her relationship with her mother had been strained because of this.

The 57-year-old father, who was previously a senior office bearer with the Selangor Ten Pin Bowling Association, said he last met his daughter in Singapore in 1993.

“I went there to get her to make peace with her mother. That was the last I heard of her.
We were not living together as I went to stay in East Malaysia,” he said.

The father, who was composed as he spoke to reporters, said he had learned about the case involving his daughter from newspaper reports.

He declined to give background details, jokingly telling reporters that they had already been reported by The Malay Mail. “There is nothing more to tell you (reporters). The Malay Mail accurately reported my details. Semua pun kena (All are correct),” he said.

The father said he was at the court yesterday to show his support for his daughter and exwife, whom he divorced in 1991.

He said his ex-wife’s health had been affected by the daughter’s arrest.

“This (her alleged involvement in the case) has been stressful for my ex-wife.” His ex-wife, however, declined to comment.

“I understand that you (reporters) are doing your job. I’m not angry but please understand that I do not want to talk to anyone yet,” she said, before her 31-year-old son led her away from the court building.

Kuala Lumpur Criminal Investigations Department chief SAC II Ku Chin Wah said the remand order had been extended until Wednesday as police needed more time.

Ku also said that the victim’s family had returned to Singapore after police recorded their statements.

It was reported that the body of 39-year-old Singaporean businessman Goh Yoke Seng was found inside a refrigerator at the Mont Kiara Bayu condominium on July 29.

A man, who had bought the condominium where the body was found, had gone to the unit to clean it up when he made the gruesome find.

The victim’s body, which had been cut into 11 pieces, was placed in garbage bags and stored in the refrigerator. The internal organs were missing.

Police believe the body had been there for more than a year.

The suspect, who had completed an information technology study programme in the United States and married Goh in 2002, surrendered to police on Monday after her picture was published in the newspapers.

Weekend Mail had reported that the suspect was a promising squash player in her teens and had represented Selangor in the 1990 Malaysian Games in Kuching, Sarawak.

Her father’s close friend, who did not want to be identified, told the paper that the suspect had stopped representing the state because she wanted to focus on her studies.

Source: The Malay Mail