PETALING JAYA: Nur Maznah Ismail, better known as Mona Fandey, was among three accused charged in 1993 with the gruesome murder of a state assemblyman from Batu Talam in Pahang.
Previously a pop singer, Mona made an unusual switch of careers to become “witch doctor” extraordinaire, and was said to have been consulted by several Umno politicians keen to boost their popularity with the electorate.
Intrigued by tales and stories surrounding Mona, 49-year-old Mazlan Idris sought her help to scale the political ladder, offering her RM500,000 and 10 land titles in exchange.
A gruesome murder
On July 18, 1993, Mazlan went over to Mona’s house in Raub, Pahang, for a “cleansing” ritual which she promised would bring him great success.
During the ritual, the assemblyman was told to lie down and close his eyes, and money would miraculously “fall from the sky”. However, instead of money, Mazlan was struck by the fatal blow of an axe, ending his life in an instant.
The gore did not stop there. The deceased was partially skinned, and his body was dismembered into 18 parts.
His remains were discovered during a search operation on July 22 of the same year, buried in a pit six feet deep located at an unfinished house he owned.
Money or witchcraft?
Evidence revealed that shortly after the murder, Mona and her husband, Affandi Abdul Rahman, went on a shopping spree, buying themselves a Mercedes Benz 280 S, jewellery and electrical appliances. Mona even got a facelift!
Juraimi Hussin, who served as the couple’s helper, provided a statement to the police which led to the discovery of Mazlan’s remains.
The trio ended up being charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder, which carries the death sentence upon conviction.
In his defence, Affandi claimed that the deceased owed him RM2 million for a “magic cane”, talisman and a traditional hat said once to have been owned by former Indonesian president Sukarno.
However, there were also suggestions of the deployment of dark rituals and black magic, with reports claiming that Mona and her accomplices had sacrificed a black goat and scattered its blood around the room.
Lurking behind her ever-smiling disposition were rumours of paranormal occurrences, including in her jail cell.
Mona’s final words before execution sent a chill down the spine of many.
“I will never die,” she said. “My soul will live on forever, even after my demise.”
Widespread coverage by the media ensured the case received nationwide attention at the time.
According to The Star, some of those who attended court proceedings kept amulets and recited verses to themselves throughout the trial.
Her story, which weaved elements of fame, power and witchcraft into a gruesome murder, inspired a 2006 movie titled “Dukun”, directed by Dain Said. - FMT
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