Tan Choe Choe
New Straits Times

MURDERS are gruesome regardless of the manner they are committed.

In the last 35 years, there have been four horrific murders, including the body-in-refrigerator case in Mont Kiara, Petaling Jaya last week, where the victims were cut into pieces.

BODY-IN-TRUNK CASE — 1975

The white bungalow at No 19, Lorong Limau Manis 2 in Bangsar Park, Kuala Lumpur, looks a little deserted with overgrown bushes in its front garden.

This was where Colombo Plan expert Kingsley John Lewis, then 32, killed his Kenyan wife, Maria Theresa, 24.

Theresa, who was said to be a philandering and abusive wife, was slashed, cut up and then stuffed into a trunk on April 3, 1975.
Lewis said he killed her to stop her from harming their 14-month-old son.

Lewis was found guilty of culpable homicide not amounting to murder and sentenced to three years’ jail.

A neighbour who has lived in the area for the last 28 years said a few families had moved into the house after Lewis left, but none stayed for long.

POLITICIAN IN 18 PIECES — 1993

Going to a bomoh couple to seek help to boost his political fortunes turned out to be fatal for Batu Talam assemblyman Datuk Mazlan Idris on July 8, 1993.

He had reportedly gone missing after withdrawing RM300,000 from a bank earlier that month.

In a black magic ceremony at the couple’s house, Mazlan was decapitated while he had his eyes closed, waiting for money to “fall from the sky”.

His body — all 18 parts — was found buried six feet deep in the storeroom of a nearby house.

Nor Affendy Abdul Rahman and his wife, Maznah Ismail, better known as Mona Fandey, were found guilty of Mazlan’s murder, as was their helper, Juraimi Husin.

During the trial, Mona remained chillingly cheerful and remarked, “looks like I have many fans” when she saw the crowd of curious members of the public outside the court.

The three were tried in the Temerloh High Court and a seven-member jury unanimously found them guilty on Feb 9, 1995.

They pleaded for clemency, but were turned down by the Pardons Board in April 2001.

On Nov 1, 2001, the three were hanged.

The case inspired a movie, Dukun, which has yet to be released due to its controversial nature.

BODY PARTS IN DRAIN — 1993

Pastor-turned-music teacher Gan Wei Seng was jailed 12 years for killing entertainer Lily Chua during a lovers’ tiff on July 6.

He stabbed Chua in the chest and chopped her into 11 pieces.

He wrapped the body pieces in newspapers and plastic bags and dumped them into a drain in Jalan Langgak Tunku.

The killing came to light after a grass cutter stumbled on some of Chua’s remains on July 8.

The remaining pieces were found in a ravine about a kilometre away three days later.

7X7 MEANS HAUNTED

Places where gruesome murders have taken place are usually haunted because the victims are not at rest, says former KL-City Ghost Tour manager Francis Nantha.

This may be just superstitious mumbo jumbo to the non-believer but most Malaysians take such hauntings seriously.

For instance the bungalow at No 10, Jalan Turi in Taman Bukit Pantai, where two boys aged 10 and 7 and their Filipino maid were killed by their family guard, is still vacant.

Their bodies were thrown into a septic tank at the back of the house in the April 23,1992 murder.

Vandalised and sometimes used as a drug addicts’ hideout, the place is now dilapidated.

Stories also abound about sightings of the victims’ spirits standing beseechingly at the gate of the house.

“Sometimes, the haunting may not be by the victims, but by other lost spirits,” said Nantha, who used to conduct tours to haunted places, including cemeteries and prisons.

Any place left vacant for 49 days may be taken over by spirits, he said.

“The number 7 is a very mystical number and it is the largest single digit prime number.

“To the Chinese, the square of 7 is very powerful and is the gateway to the netherworld.”

Anything that is left unused or unattended for 49 days will appear in the spirit world.

“The best way to cleanse a house of haunting spirits is to lift up the roof and let the sun shine through it for 49 days.”

Just to make sure, you can do it for 98 days.

“The place will cease to be a shelter for them without a roof and then it will be safe for people to move back in,” said Nantha.