6 of the Most Mysterious, Unsolved Cases that Took Place on Malaysian Soil

If you think bizarre and creepy things only happen in other countries like America or Thailand, think again!

In fact, some of the most mysterious, gruesome and unsolved cases have taken place right here in Malaysia as well. Some even dating back to decades ago, before some of us were even born! Read on to find out more about Malaysia’s unsolved cases, but be warned, these aren’t your everyday bedtime stories:

1. The small town girl who tried to make it big

Her name was Norita Samsuddin. She was just 22 years old.

Source: CurrentLife

Norita had the looks of a model and was given many modelling gigs, most of which she turned down because she wanted to focus on her career as a marketing executive. Unfortunately, Norita didn’t live long enough to see her dreams come true. On 3rd December 2005, Norita’s naked body was found in her apartment in Sri Hartamas, with her hands tied and strangulation marks around her neck. She was believed to have been murdered during the wee hours of the morning.

Source: CurrentLife

A man by the name of Hanif Basri – who was found to have sexual relations with Norita – was later arrested with connections to her murder as it was believed that he was the last person to see Norita alive. However, shortly after, Hanif was acquitted when some vivid details of Norita’s social life (which were never specified) emerged. It was also believed that another man had come to visit Norita after Hanif had left. The case was never solved.

2. The supermodel who married the prince

In October 2002, Hasleza Ishak, a 26-year-old model cum actress was found strangled and believed to have been thrown off a bridge. Her body was spotted nearby Taiping, at KM63 along Jalan Sumpitan late at night.  She was the second wife to Datuk Seri Raja Jaafar Raja Muda Musa, the Raja DiHilir of Perak.

Source: Blogspot

Records show that Hasleza was abducted in a brown Proton Saga, which witnesses claim had a police sticker on it. The investigation also found that the Raja’s first wife had initially asked bomohs to rid her husband of a spell she believed was causing him to be cold towards her. This all started when the Raja’s first wife began developing a rash, vomiting crystals and when odd things started happening around the palace.

Source: The Star

Five men, including two bomohs, were accused of the murder where one of the bomohs Mat Saad told the court that the first wife, Princess Mahani was the mastermind behind the whole thing, of which she denied. Princess Mahani was never charged while the bomoh and another palace aide were sent to prison. However, both were acquitted soon after as there was no credible evidence.

3. The death of a Miss Malaysia runner-up on Federal Highway

Source: The Star

This tragic incident took place in 1979, where Jean Perera Sinappa, who had lost her husband just a year ago in a car accident, was found stabbed to death in a white Fiat 125 car parked along the Federal Highway. S. Karthigesu, her brother-in-law, was found unconscious nearby.

Source: MalaysianDigest

Karthigesu claimed that he had stopped the car by the side of the road to quickly relieve himself when he was suddenly hit from behind. However, investigations found that Jean had been exchanging love letters with a Sri Lankan Dr Narada, and cops believed Karthigesu may have murdered Jean out of jealousy or vengeance for his brother.

Karthigesu, who was the only suspect in the 38-day court trial, was charged but released after an appeal. The case was never solved.

4. Malaysia’s first ever hijacked plane 

Source: DaisyTeaPot

That’s right, before the tragic disappearance and tragedies of Malaysia’s MH370 and MH17, came the deadliest hijacking in history: the MH653.

Back in 1977, a plane carrying hundred over people was en route to Subang airport from Penang. Some of these passengers included VIPs like Malaysian Minister of Agriculture Datuk Seri Ali bin Ahmad, and Cuban ambassador to Japan Mario Garcia Inchaustegui. Unfortunately, all passengers aboard the plane died and the only witness left was the plane’s black box.

Source: eberita

From the recordings, it was found that the hijackers had barged into the cockpit and ordered the pilot Capt. G. K. Ganjoor to cut radio connections. The pilot was also asked to redirect the plane; but with only half a tank of fuel left, the only other possible destination was Singapore, and so the plane was redirected there. However, moments later, the hijackers began feeling paranoid, and started shooting at MH653’s only pilots on board.

MH653 eventually crashed in Tanjung Kupang, Johor and unfortunately no one survived. There wasn’t even an identifiable body left on the plane, and until today, no one knows who the hijackers were or why they wanted to hijack the MH653.

5. A Datuk Seri charged

Source: MalaysianDigest

Back in 2005, a young 13-year-old Chinese national named Xu Jian Huang was sent here to live with his father’s cousin.

Unfortunately, in September 2005, the boy’s body was found drowned in a swimming pool with 23 torture marks. Investigations led to the arrest of Koh Kim Teck (Xu’s uncle), along with his two bodyguards from a house off Jalan Ampang. Koh’s ‘Datuk Seri’ title was also revoked following his arrest. At the High Court, the victim’s father took to the stand for the first time and claimed that Xu sounded frightened during their phone call three days prior to his murder. Xu never sounded frightened before.

Although the trial presented many details regarding the case, missing witnesses resulted in Koh’s acquittal. The case was never solved and Koh disappeared in 2010 when his acquittal was upheld.

6. The man who carried out a mass murder on the train

Although this case was ultimately solved, the events surrounding the case are nothing short of mysterious.

Source: InternationalSteam

In 1947, an Indonesian man named Mat Taram bin Sa’al, 30, was convicted for stabbing 11 people on a train here heading for Kuala Lumpur, and at a Kongsi nearby Bangi. Mat had planned to return to Indonesia with his family and so he sold his house and farm in Perak for 200 Straits dollars. When they arrived in Singapore to board a ferry, Mat realised he didn’t have enough money for the tickets.

According to his wife, Mat was depressed and could not sleep for days. Mat and his family ended up returning to Perak. That evening, just after the train had passed by Bangi, Mat simply walked into the train’s restaurant car and began stabbing four British army men. The train stopped and Mat made a run for it into the jungle. All this happened while his family was still in the train!

Source: KnifeUp

He didn’t stop there though. He stabbed a homeless man and then at a Kongsi, he killed another three children, two women and one man, while injuring nine others. Long story short, Mat was arrested and declared mentally unsound.

Well, there you have it, some of the most mysterious cases to have ever taken place on Malaysian soil. Did any of these cases give you goosebumps? Well, you’re not the only one. Interested to read more about unsolved Malaysian cases? So are we! Unfortunately, that’s all we have, for now!

However, if the detective in you is still looking for more unsolved cases to crack, remember to check out the brand new film Murder on the Orient Express releasing this 30th November!

Definitely a film for all you mystery-loving Malaysians out there! The story revolves around a detective who sets out to solve a murder that took place on a moving train. Check out the exciting, nail-biting trailer below:

If you want to find out more about Murder on the Orient Express, click here!