Mona Fandey: Fragments of a Dark Fame
“Aku takkan mati,” were the final words uttered by Mona Fandey moments before her execution almost twenty-five years ago. An estranged pop star turned murderous sorceress, her name still sends shivers down people’s spines to this day.
The Genesis
In the Northern Peninsular of Malaysia, within the culturally rich state of Perak, home to Kellie’s Castle and the renowned Ipoh Hor Fun, nearly seventy years ago, a determined young girl was raised in the confines of a conservative Muslim household. Maznah Ismail, from a tender age, harboured a fervent passion for the vocal arts, particularly pop music, aspiring to ascend to stardom in the Malaysian music industry and beyond. Little did she fathom that her journey would soon intersect with the realms of black magic and the occult.
Mohammad Affendi: An accidental ally? Or roped into a calculated cold-blooded murder?
In the early 1980s, during her time as an upcoming singer, Mona Fandey caught the eye of Mohd Affendi, a sound engineer, whom she met as a result of their shared involvement in the music industry. Upon tying the knot not long after their encounters, Affendi became Mona’s manager, as she transitioned from singing to other ventures, which she might have thought would have yielded more promising results for her. During his time at the Pudu jail, rumours spread rapidly alleging that Affendi possessed otherworldly capabilities that allowed him to hatch open prison cell locks and several other layers of doors. Most likely based on his ties to the cases’ heavy concentration on black magic and the occult, the rumour was said to be untrue by the Former Director-General of Prisons, Datuk Mohamad Omar Dan after a special interrogation session with the accused, who later then observed that Affandi’s character and behaviour were largely influenced by his family background, as were most other inmates, the majority of whom stemmed from weak educational backgrounds.
The Tragedy of Mazlan Idris
This poignant quote aptly embodies the tragic demise of Mazlan Idris, a state assemblyman in 1993 poised for a promising future within Malaysia’s state legislative bodies, representing a distinct constituency or district at the state level of governance. But what impelled him, adorned with such a promising trajectory, to seek solace in the dubious hands of Mona Fandey? And how obscured must the shadows have been to conceal his discernment from the perils lurking behind the sinister eyes of an alleged ‘bomoh’?
The Night of Infamy
As per reports, during July of that year, Mona and Affendy conspired to exact revenge on Mazlan following a soured land transaction, which would be the root of a bigger tangle. They lured Mazlan to their mansion in Pahang under the guise of bestowing invincibility upon him through a purported purification ritual using some items previously adorned by the first Indonesian President, Sukarno.
Contrary to Mazlan’s anticipation, the rendezvous turned fatal. His cadaver was dismembered into 18 parts and clandestinely interred within an unfinished edifice on Mazlan’s property in Raub, Pahang. Some accounts depicted the grisly extent of Mazlan’s mutilation, intimating that his skin was partially flayed.
In July 1993, Juraimi Hassan, their assistant and alleged driver, was apprehended on drug-related offences, potentially while under the influence, and mistakenly believed he was being arrested for Mazlan’s murder. Consequently, he hastily admitted to the crime, implicating Fandey and Affandi in the process. Subsequently, all three were arrested. During the trial, it’s believed that Hassan testified against his accomplices.
On July 22, 1993, the Federal Criminal Investigation Department, under the stewardship of Director Datuk Zaman Khan, conducted a meticulous search operation. Their endeavours unearthed the ghastly truth of Mazlan’s fragmented carcass, buried six feet beneath a veneer of cement. Amidst the inquiry, law enforcement unearthed a disconcerting tableau at the burial site: an altar adorned with divinity statuettes, alongside an arsenal of blades and an axe. Additionally, a .38 Smith & Wesson pistol registered to Mazlan was unearthed nearby.
Aftermath
Subsequent police investigations unveiled the disappearance of approximately RM315,000 from Mazlan’s accounts in Kuantan and Kuala Lumpur. It was speculated that one of the suspects utilized the funds to procure a Mercedes-Benz 280S outright.
Mona, Affendi, and Juraimi were formally indicted for Mazlan’s murder on August 3 of that year in Raub magistrate’s court (Chan, 2020). Despite their professed innocence, they faced trial at the Temerloh High Court before a seven-member jury. Across the proceedings, 70 witnesses were summoned, and 295 evidentiary exhibits were tendered. Ultimately, the tribunal adjudged the defendants guilty, consigning them to the gallows. The trio lodged appeals in the federal court, yet in 1999, their petitions were rebuffed, and the capital sentences were affirmed.
Remarkably, the trial epitomised one of the final vestiges of jury trials in Malaysia, as all jury trials were eradicated effective January 1, 1995.
During the court deliberations, Juraimi rendered one of the most bone-chilling confessions, articulating, “I chopped his neck three times to sever the head from the torso. I also dismembered Mazlan’s remains before burial.”
In 2018, Malaysian cinema bore witness to the premiere of the horror-thriller “Dukun,” helmed by esteemed filmmaker Dain Iskandar Said. The protagonist, embodied by Datin Seri Umie Aida, purportedly drew inspiration from Mona Fandey, injecting an additional layer of mystique into the legendary saga.
The Conclusion
Even in the aftermath of the harrowing events, the Mona Fandey case persists as a focal point of public intrigue and discourse. Perspectives on the case vary widely, reflecting its multifaceted nature and the nuanced complexities of the crime. For some, Mona Fandey epitomises a sobering cautionary tale, emblematic of the perils of superstition and the exploitation of vulnerable individuals. Her metamorphosis from a luminary songstress to an alleged practitioner of black magic turned assassin serves as a stark reminder of the dangers inherent in unchecked beliefs and manipulation.
Others perceive the case through a prism of political machinations and corruption, viewing Mona Fandey’s actions as emblematic of a broader narrative of power struggles and betrayal. The involvement of a prominent political figure and the subsequent revelation of financial motivations underscore the murky intersections between politics and criminality. Moreover, the trial and its subsequent appeals lay bare the systemic flaws in the justice apparatus, prompting scrutiny regarding the efficacy of legal procedures in handling high-profile cases.
Ultimately, the Mona Fandey case endures as a sombre testament to the depths of human depravity and the enduring allure of true crime narratives. It stands as a chilling reminder of the ramifications of unbridled ambition, superstition, and moral degradation, leaving an indelible imprint on Malaysia and the collective consciousness of those ensnared by its unsettling narrative.
[Written by: Shree Pavana Kurunsikumaran, Edited By: Teoh Jin]
