One of the most memorable moments for the Bachelor of Arts in Law Enforcement (Investigations) (Honours) student Muhammad Umar Abdul Rahman during his studies at Saito University College was completing his final year project. Leading a group called The Truth Seekers, Umar and three other friends had decided to conduct research on the notorious Mona Fandey case.
Mona, her husband and an assistant were convicted in the gruesome murder of Batu Talam state assemblyman Datuk Mazlan Idris 31 years ago and rumours have it that the trio had dabbled in black magic and had gone out of their cells for night outings.
The Truth Seekers decided to investigate if there was any truth in the claims. With the help of his father who was a senior police officer, they traced the investigating officer Takbir Ahmad Nazir Mohamad who accompanied them to the site where Datuk Mazlan’s body was mutilated in Raub, Pahang.
“It was scary at first but when we were there, there was no untoward incident and this was one proof that that all the rumours were just myths,” he said.
There were many unverified reports of the so-called “black magic” circulating but none could be verified.
“Tuan Takbir told us the so-called black magic was not true. For instance, there were reports that the accused had the ability to leave her prison cell at night. But if it was true, why did she come back to the cell?” said Umar whose team managed to debunk the tales.
The effort by the group consisting of Umar, Muhammad Amirruddin Muslim, Eddy Emid and Grace Hilda Lumi Peter won them the Best Final Year Project which was awarded during the 11th Convocation on Nov 9.
Umar said his stay at Saito UC was an eye opener and thanked all his lecturers who guided him and his friends throughout.
“I plan to join the police force after this,” said the 23-year old graduate.
Note: The Mona Fandey high profile case was a centre of attraction when Mona was arrested along with her husband Mohd Affandi Abdul Rahman and their assistant Juraimi Husin in 1993.
They killed and mutilated Datuk Mazlan Idris, before burying the remains in a hole at a house in Dong, Raub.
The Temerloh High Court sentenced all the three to death in 1995.
