The man who was accused of murdering 15-year-old Ng Yuk Tim two years ago after meeting under the pretenses of making cosplay outfits together was sentenced to death by hanging yesterday in Shah Alam courts.
Ng was killed by 23-year-old Poon Wai Hong between October 21 and 22, 2013, after the suspect admitted to police that the incident occurred after befriending her within Kuala Lumpur’s online cosplay community.
Although the accused attempted to claim the incident was an accident, the judge ordered a mandatory death penalty.
Poon had used Facebook to invite the teen to his home under the pretenses of working on their costumes together, but instead then tried to rape her when she arrived. She resisted, and he told investigators it was then that he struck her in the head with a dumbbell.
Unsure of what to do with her body, he then packed her up into a suitcase and dumped her body along the road-side at Jalan Kebun Nenas.
Ng’s mother and friends posted several Facebook pleas, asking for anyone with any information regarding her whereabouts to come forward. However, her body was later found inside a green suitcase, in the fetal position, wearing only a t-shirt and panties.
Poon was arrested the following day.
The incident was a harsh reminder to young, naïve teens across the country to exercise extra caution when meeting with unknown individuals they had met online.
The teen’s tragic death also shook the cosplay community, where members often build virtual relationships of trust with each other. At the time, the chairman of the Comic Fiesta called it a blow to the community, as it furthered public misconceptions.
While murder amongst members is a rarity, the community has been rocked by allegations of sexual harassment of young women, and member bullying, in the past.
