The Murderer Who Smiled Till Death | The Witchcraft Killer

Witchcraft has long been a presence in Malaysia, deeply rooted in traditional healing practices and animism. This belief system ascribes spiritual qualities to natural objects and phenomena. In some parts of the country, there is a deep-rooted belief in the power of witchcraft, also known as ill mohitum. It is believed that witchcraft can be used to gain instant wealth, harm others, or even cause death. These beliefs have led to numerous incidents where individuals have been accused of practicing black magic and subsequently attacked or killed. In this case, we will explore one of the most notorious witchcraft killers in history.

The Gruesome Case of Mona Fanday

In the quiet town of Pahang, Malaysia, a murder case shocked the nation. It was a gruesome and bizarre crime that involved witchcraft, political ambition, and a former pop singer turned murderer. This is the story of Mona Fanday, a woman who went from being a pop star to a witch doctor and eventually a convicted murderer.

Mona Fanday, born Mazna Ismail in 1956, was a talented singer and dancer in her youth. She gained popularity as a pop singer and even released an album titled "Diana." However, her music career was short-lived, and Mona decided to pursue a career in spiritual practices, particularly witchcraft. Alongside her husband Muhammad Nurofandi Abdul Rahman, they became known as bomos or local shamans.

Mona offered her services to clients, mostly from the upper-class society. Her clientele included politicians who sought her help to boost their careers. One client, Maslan Idris, a state assemblyman, approached Mona Fanday for her services. Mona promised to help Maslan by giving him a talisman consisting of a cane and spaknai, a headgear supposedly owned by former Indonesian president Sukarno. She told Maslan that he would be invincible if he held the talisman. In return, Mona demanded a hefty sum of 2.5 million Malaysian Dollars.

Maslan was eventually convinced and paid the couple 500,000 Malaysian Dollars as a deposit and gave them 10 land titles as a surety for the remaining 2 million. Little did he know that the talisman he was promised would become his death warrant.

An appointment was made for cleansing rituals to be performed at Mona's house. Maslan was told to lie on the floor face up while Mona placed flowers on him. She told him to close his eyes and wait for money to fall from the sky. At that most unexpected moment, the couple's assistant, Zhu Remy, used an ax to chop off Maslan's head. They also dismembered and partially skinned his body. The body parts were then dissected into 18 parts and buried in a storeroom near Mona's house in Pahang.

Maslan was reported missing on July 2, 1993. At first, the police couldn't find any leads or clues as to his whereabouts. However, suspicions were raised when Maslan's bank account was found to have been emptied. The police then focused their investigation on Mona Fanday and her husband. During a search of Mona's house, they found evidence that pointed towards her involvement in Maslan's disappearance. Cement had been purchased but claimed to be for house renovation. However, when the police dug up the storeroom at the back of Mona's house on July 22, 1993, they made a gruesome discovery - all of Maslan's dismembered body parts.

After the discovery, Mona, her husband, and their assistant were arrested. A highly publicized trial began, lasting for 65 days and hearing evidence from 76 witnesses. The prosecution argued that the motive for the murder was money, pointing to Mona's shopping spree, facelift, and the Mercedes she bought after the murder. The defense argued that Maslan owed the couple 2 million Malaysian dollars for the promised magic talisman and headgear.

However, it only took the seven-member jury 70 minutes to reach a unanimous verdict of guilty against all three defendants. They were ultimately sentenced to death by hanging. Throughout the trial, Mona had a penchant for wearing expensive outfits to court. Unlike most people on trial for their lives, she always had a smile for the media and seemed to revel in the attention.

After hearing her sentence, Mona said, "I am happy and thank you to all Malaysians." Even as she was led from the court to prison, she was photographed smiling as usual. During her time in prison, she reportedly spent much of her time reading the Quran and seeking spiritual guidance from the prison's Imam. There have been some reports that suggest Mona Fanday continued to maintain her innocence until her execution, believing she was the victim of a miscarriage of justice.

The Last Words of Mona Fanday

After spending almost two years on death row, Mona and the others filed appeals to the federal court. The appeal process began in 1998 but was adjourned until 1999 due to legal arguments. In April 1999, the appeals of all three convicts were dismissed, and their death sentences were upheld. They then sought to obtain a pardon or clemency from the pardon's board of Pahang, their final chance at redemption. However, the board refused to grant clemency.

On November 2, 2001, Mona Fanday, her husband, and their assistant were hanged. Before her execution, Mona uttered her infamous last words, "I will never die." These words shocked the nation and have contributed to the legend of Mona Fanday. It is unclear what exactly she meant by her last words. Some have speculated that it was a sign of defiance, while others believe it was a statement of her unwavering belief in the power of magic and witchcraft. Regardless, her name will never be forgotten.

The case of Mona Fanday remains one of the most notorious instances of witchcraft-related crimes in Malaysia's history. It serves as a reminder of the dark and dangerous consequences that can arise from belief in the supernatural and the lengths some individuals will go to fulfill their desires.