A Murderer Witch

The murder of Datuk Mazlan Idris, a politician, are some of the murder that could be considered the most horrific crimes in the history of Malaysia. Shocking murder following the discovery of the body Mazlan was cut into 18 parts and buried using cement, has the characteristics of cults. The trial for 69 days in 1994 involves the story on black magic, money and politics. If not for the efficiency of the police, the carefully planned murder by the couple Mohamed Affandi Abdul Rahman and his wife, Maznah Ismail (better known as Mona Fandey) and done by their assistants, Juraimi Husin, might still be unknown to Malaysians.

Mazlan, who was Pahang state assemblyman at that time, were missing. At first, his missing did not arouse much suspicion, but when he could not be contacted by a family member over a week, the police began to act. Eleven days after the murder that occurred between 10 pm and midnight of July 13, 1993, police arrested Juraimi not because of the murder but because he was suspected of drug addicts. But Juraimi then led police to the gruesome discovery of the body of Mazlan, dug out from under the cement floor in the storeroom near an unknowned house in Kampung Peruas, Hulu Dong, Raub district, Pahang.

The news became more sensation when  a picture in the newspapers shows the Chief Minister of Pahang at that time, Tan Sri Khalil Yaakob, taking out Mazlan’s head from the hole when the police found it. 

The hearing was told how the couple had planned the killing a month earlier and gave order to Juraimi few days before the killing to sharpen an axe to chop off Mazlan’s head and to dig a big hole. Affandi and Mona also sharpen a knife used to cut the body into 18 parts Mazlan.

Money was said to be the motive of the killing. A few hours before killing Mazlan, the couple persuaded him to withdraw cash of almost RM300,000 from a few banks nearby promising that the couple can double the amount of money after Mazlan undergoes the ‘mandi bunga’ ritual.

The story in court regarding the murder is really creepy – Mazlan was told to lie down before Juraimi hack his neck with an axe after Mazlan being assured by Affandi that 'a lot of money will fall down from the roof’ . The prosecutor argued that Mazlan withdraw huge amount of money not to give out to his supporters, instead, he believes in the hoax `money for money’ told by the couple because he needs a lot of money for political purposes. 

The court was told that the victim was at that time competing for the position of Head of UMNO. Juraimi was only given RM180 to bury the body immediately after the murder by the couple who then rushed to Kuala Lumpur and stay in a hotel.

Eight hours after the murder, Affandi and Mona start shopping using the money. As early as 7.30a.m. the next day, they had been in a car showroom in Melaka to buy a Mercedes Benz 280 eventhough the store was not yet open for business on that day. A day after the murder, they spent more than RM160,000 to buy a car, mobile phone and jewelery. A few days later, the couple, described in court as a shortage of funds prior to the murder, spent more than RM20,000 for jewellery and furniture. Mona, who was a singer, also paid RM13,000 for plastic surgery two weeks after the murder, while her husband set up a number of companies. Overall, the couple spent about RM300,000 within 10 days before their arrest, which was exactly the same amount withdrawn by Mazlan from his bank account.

The stories told by the couple to defend themselves are not much less sensation than it already is, but judges in the High Court, Court of Appeal and the Federal Court all don’t believe any of it. Affandi, for example, told the court that Mazlan is in debt to him for a total of RM2.5 million for three things by which once belonged to the late President Sukarno - sticks, amulets and skull cap. Pahang Pardons Board also rejected their application for a royal pardon.

Three of them were hanged to death on 2 November 2001 after being found guilty of murdering the Legislative Assembly (Assembly) of Batu Talam, Datuk Mazlan Idris on July 13, 1993.