4 family members and a mistress: Who are the 5 linked to HK model Abby Choi's grisly murder? - The Straits Times

The authorities believe they have arrested all the suspects involved in the murder of 28-year-old Hong Kong socialite Abby Choi, whose dismembered body was discovered last week.

Her headless body was found in a rented village property in Tai Po, a suburb in Hong Kong. Parts of her body – including her bashed head – had been cooked in a large soup pot, with some remains kept in a refrigerator.

Four people aged between 28 and 65 have been charged in connection with the murder and appeared in court on Monday. They include Ms Choi’s former husband, former brother-in-law and former father-in-law, who were charged with murder. Her former mother-in-law faces one charge of perverting the course of justice.

The police have also arrested the mistress of Ms Choi’s former father-in-law and are investigating if she knew about the case. 

Ms Choi was reportedly attacked in a car and fell unconscious, before she was taken to the village house. Her exact time of death is still being investigated. As the suspects are not cooperating, police said investigations have been difficult.

Adblock test (Why?)

https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMihgFodHRwczovL3d3dy5zdHJhaXRzdGltZXMuY29tL2FzaWEvZWFzdC1hc2lhLzQtZmFtaWx5LW1lbWJlcnMtYW5kLWEtbWlzdHJlc3Mtd2hvLWFyZS10aGUtNS1saW5rZWQtdG8taGstbW9kZWwtYWJieS1jaG9pLXMtZ3Jpc2x5LW11cmRlctIBAA?oc=5

2023-02-27 10:28:15Z
1802894305

Murder of Hong Kong socialite: Who was Abby Choi? - CNA

Hong Kong police are investigating the murder of socialite and model Abby Choi, whose remains were found on Friday (Feb 24) at a rented three-storey house in Lung Mei Tsuen district of Tai Po, a suburb in Hong Kong.

Four people – her ex-husband Alex Kwong, 28, his father, 65, his elder brother, 31, and his 63-year-old mother – have been arrested and charged in connection with her death. The three men were charged with murder while the ex-husband's mother was charged with perverting the course of justice.

Another suspect, a 47-year-old woman said to be the lover of Choi’s ex-father-in-law, was also arrested.

On Saturday, police said they believe the victim and her ex-husband’s family had “financial disputes involving huge sums”.

“Someone was dissatisfied with how the victim handled her assets, which became a motive to kill,” superintendent Alan Chung told reporters.

Her ex-father-in-law, a former police sergeant who left the force in 2005, was allegedly the mastermind behind the murder plot, South China Morning Post reported, quoting a source.

Choi was the daughter of a wealthy family running a construction business with dealings in China, according to Hong Kong media reports, and had a personal net worth of more than HK$100 million (S$17.2 million).

She appeared on the cover of fashion and luxury lifestyle magazine L’Officiel Monaco last month, where she was described as a “style icon and media personality who took the world by storm with her impeccable sense of style and her unbridled passion for fashion”.

Adblock test (Why?)

https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiX2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmNoYW5uZWxuZXdzYXNpYS5jb20vYXNpYS9hYmJ5LWNob2ktc29jaWFsaXRlLW1vZGVsLWhvbmcta29uZy1tdXJkZXItYXJyZXN0cy0zMzA4Mzc20gEA?oc=5

2023-02-27 07:59:17Z
1802894305

Singapore to introduce Online Criminal Harms Act amid 'growing international consensus' for such laws: MHA - CNA

SINGAPORE: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) will table new legislation later this year to better tackle crimes committed in cyberspace, said Second Minister for Home Affairs Josephine Teo in Parliament on Monday (Feb 27).

If passed by Parliament, the proposed Online Criminal Harms Act will grant the Government powers to stop or remove online communications that pave the way for crimes in the physical world, such as inciting violence.

The Act is aimed at closing the gaps left by the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act, which came into force in 2019, as well as the Foreign Interference (Countermeasures) Act that was passed in Parliament in 2021.

Mrs Teo, who was speaking during the Committee of Supply debates, further noted that the Broadcasting Act was recently amended to “deal with harms that impact user safety, such as cyberbullying and content likely to undermine racial and religious harmony”.

The Infocomm Media Development Authority is now able to deal with harmful online content accessible to Singapore users, regardless of where the content is hosted or initiated.

The Government can also block access to egregious content on online communications services, including social media platforms, Mrs Teo said.

“But there remain gaps. There is online content which are criminal in their own right, or content which facilitate or abet such crimes,” she added.

These crimes include syndicated ones like scams, online incitement of mass public disorder, and malicious cyber activities such as phishing and the distribution of malware.

“We have been monitoring these developments closely and intend to update our suite of legislation to better protect our people,” Mrs Teo told the House.

She pointed out that online harms are “constantly evolving and take different forms” such as falsehoods, foreign interference and inappropriate sexual abuse material, while mediums are also exploited to incite violence, carry out scams at scale and for drug trafficking.

She added that there has been “growing international consensus for rules to combat online harm”, with the United Kingdom, the European Union, Germany and Australia having introduced or proposed new laws to regulate the online space.

MHA first said during the Committee of Supply debates in 2021 that it was studying potential levers to deal with criminal offences committed online.

Adblock test (Why?)

https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMikgFodHRwczovL3d3dy5jaGFubmVsbmV3c2FzaWEuY29tL3NpbmdhcG9yZS9zaW5nYXBvcmUtaW50cm9kdWNlLW9ubGluZS1jcmltaW5hbC1oYXJtcy1hY3QtYW1pZC1ncm93aW5nLWludGVybmF0aW9uYWwtY29uc2Vuc3VzLXN1Y2gtbGF3cy1taGEtMzMwNzg0NtIBAA?oc=5

2023-02-27 08:34:47Z
1806059030

New Malaysia PM Anwar an 'old friend' of Singapore; both countries will manage differences constructively: Balakrishnan - CNA

SINGAPORE: Singapore’s development works on Pedra Branca are “needed to enhance maritime safety and security, and to improve the search and rescue capabilities in the area”, said Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan on Monday (Feb 27).

The works also ensure that Pedra Branca is "adequately protected against the threat of sea-level rise".

And these works are “fully in accordance” with international law and Singapore’s sovereignty over the island and its waters, said Dr Balakrishnan in Parliament.

In May 2022, Singapore temporarily suspended the works to facilitate discussions on Malaysia’s concerns and comprehensively address their queries “in the spirit of mutual cooperation and good faith”, noted Dr Balakrishnan. 

“In December 2022, Singapore put forward proposals to Malaysia to resolve the issue and to move forward with the work. Subsequently, we agreed to Malaysia’s request for more time for them to consider our clarifications and proposals,” he added.  

The development works are currently paused due to the monsoon season. 

“We will manage our differences constructively and pragmatically, and not allow any single issue to overshadow the entire relationship,” said Dr Balakrishnan. 

Adblock test (Why?)

https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMidWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmNoYW5uZWxuZXdzYXNpYS5jb20vc2luZ2Fwb3JlL3BlZHJhLWJyYW5jYS13b3Jrcy1tYWxheXNpYS1zaW5nYXBvcmUtaW50ZXJuYXRpb25hbC1sYXctc292ZXJlaWdudHktMzMwODE3NtIBAA?oc=5

2023-02-27 06:24:00Z
1807384931

Police find missing head of dismembered Hong Kong socialite Abby Choi in soup pot - The Straits Times

HONG KONG - Police have found the missing head of Hong Kong socialite and influencer Abby Choi in one of two big pots containing soup and human remains, days after her grisly murder was discovered.

In a news briefing late on Sunday, police investigators confirmed that they found a head and ribs inside one of two large pots they retrieved on Friday from inside a house in Hong Kong’s rural Tai Po district where she was said to have been butchered.

The head and ribs are believed to belong to Ms Choi, they said, but DNA tests are needed to confirm it.

The two pots were filled almost to the brim with soup and minced meat believed to be human remains. There were also carrots and green radish in them.

The pots were taken to the mortuary on Saturday. On Sunday, forensic experts began examining the contents. That was when they discovered the head and ribs, and it appeared that someone had tried to bash the head, according to one media report.

Police were continuing the search for body parts that were still missing, including her hands and torso.

Portions of the 28-year-old’s body – her legs were recovered from a refrigerator – were found on Friday in the Tai Po house. A meat slicer, an electric saw, a hammer, face shields and black raincoats were also recovered at the scene.

Four people have been arrested, and three of them charged. Those charged are set to appear in a local court on Monday.

Ms Choi’s former husband Alex Kwong, 28, was arrested on Saturday, but has not been charged yet. He was reported to have been taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital after complaining of feeling unwell.

He was caught at the Tung Chung pier on Lantau Island as he was trying to flee, purportedly with HK$4.5 million (S$774,000) worth of cash and luxury watches.

His father and brother were charged with murder. His 63-year-old mother was also arrested and charged with obstructing the case.

Ms Choi disappeared on Tuesday and was last seen in the Tai Po district where she was found, police said.

About 100 elite divers and police officers were seen on Saturday combing a cemetery where Ms Choi’s former father-in-law and brother-in-law were seen on Wednesday. They had drones and search dogs with them.

Adblock test (Why?)

https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMif2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnN0cmFpdHN0aW1lcy5jb20vYXNpYS9lYXN0LWFzaWEvcG9saWNlLWZpbmQtbWlzc2luZy1oZWFkLW9mLWJ1dGNoZXJlZC1ob25nLWtvbmctc29jaWFsaXRlLWFiYnktY2hvaS1pbi1iaWctc291cC1wb3TSAQA?oc=5

2023-02-26 14:47:48Z
1802894305

Gambling hub Macao drops COVID-19 mask mandate for most locations - CNA

HONG KONG: Authorities in Macao, the world's biggest gambling hub, said on Sunday (Feb 26) they would drop COVID 19-related mask requirements for most locations, except for public transportation, hospitals and a handful of other areas.

The rule change takes effect from Monday, the government said in a statement on its website.

"The epidemic situation in Macao has continuously remained stable over the last two months," it said.

"Making reference from the anti-epidemic experience worldwide, the Novel Coronavirus Response and Coordination Centre will adjust its mask-wearing requirements."

The neighbouring Chinese special administrative region of Hong Kong, one of the last places globally that still imposes a mask mandate, extended its requirement until Mar 8, although the authorities have said they hope to drop it as quickly as possible.

Hong Kong and Macao both followed China's zero-COVID policy for much of the past three years. Hong Kong started unwinding its stringent COVID rules last year but mask-wearing has remained constant since 2020.

Residents of mainland China are not required to wear masks outdoors, although authorities encourage them to do so in public indoor areas such as airports and train stations.

Macao's government said that individuals who develop flu-like symptoms should wear a mask when going out and that members of the public should carry face masks with them when commuting around the city.

Adblock test (Why?)

https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMicWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmNoYW5uZWxuZXdzYXNpYS5jb20vYXNpYS9tYWNhby1jb3ZpZC0xOS1tYXNrLW1hbmRhdGUtbGlmdGVkLWV4Y2VwdC1wdWJsaWMtdHJhbnNwb3J0LWhvc3BpdGFscy0zMzA2NDMx0gEA?oc=5

2023-02-26 06:50:10Z
1788581236

Ex-father-in-law of Hong Kong model and his eldest son charged with murder - CNA

Police said on Saturday that the two children Choi had with her ex-husband were being taken care of by her mother.

The murder came to light on Friday when officers found body parts of 28-year-old Choi – who went missing on Tuesday – in the ground-floor flat of a three-storey house in Tai Po’s Lung Mei Tsuen.

Police uncovered a meat grinder, electric saw and two pots containing human tissue, alongside two types of meat cleavers, a hammer, face shields, black raincoats and a purple handbag that belonged to Choi at the Tai Po flat. The suspects had covered the walls of the flat with a sail.

Two female legs were found in a fridge at the flat. The social media influencer’s head, torso and hands are still missing.

On Saturday, about 100 officers including divers from the force’s elite Special Duties Unit, known as Flying Tigers, and officers from the Police Tactical Unit took part in a search operation at a Tseung Kwan O cemetery.

A drone was used for an aerial search and police tracking dogs were also deployed at the cemetery to detect traces of Choi.

Officers searched the area as their investigation indicated that the ex-father-in-law and brother-in-law went there on Wednesday, a day after Choi was reported missing.

Police said the search would continue on Sunday.

This article was first published on SCMP.

Adblock test (Why?)

https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiZ2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmNoYW5uZWxuZXdzYXNpYS5jb20vYXNpYS9ob25nLWtvbmctbW9kZWwtYWJieS1jaG9pLW11cmRlci1leC1odXNiYW5kLWZhbWlseS1jaGFyZ2VkLTMzMDYzMzbSAQA?oc=5

2023-02-26 04:59:00Z
1802894305