Forbidden Romance (4/2/24) - Short Story

01) Not The Usual Morning 

As the sun peeked out of the horizon in a quiet residential neighborhood nestled amidst lush greenery, Mr. Murugan a respected retired silverhaired embalmer was going about his early morning to meet his equally seasoned kakis  for their daily morning stroll. The promised of a stunning beautiful morning beckons them for the great outdoors especially for the seniors.

However, fate had a different plan in store for him on this momentous day.

As Mr. Murugan went about his usual routine, he noticed something peculiar lying on the sidewalk among the bushes. It was a worn-out cardboard box, seemingly abandoned. Curiosity got the better of him, and he couldn't resist the urge to investigate its contents.

With caution, he picked up the box, feeling its fragility in his hands. To his surprise, the box fell apart, revealing a green plastic bag within. The bag appeared to be holding something, that instantly raised Mr. Murugan's suspicions.

Using a nearby twig, he carefully untied the loosely-knotted bag. His heart raced as he unveiled the shocking truth. Before his eyes lay the lower half of a woman's body. Even though he has seen many corpses throughout his career, the gruesome sight sent shivers down his spine, and he struggled to comprehend the gruesome scene before him.

Despite the sense of horror that engulfed him, Mr. Murugan being an experienced ex embalmer he couldn't help but notice the absence of decomposition. The flesh appeared remarkably fresh, as if the woman was not dead. It was a chilling sight that defied all logic and reason.

The woman's body had been cleanly severed at the pelvis and knee joints. The precision of the cuts left no doubt in Mr. Murugan's mind that this was no accidental occurrence. It was a deliberate act of evil intent, one that left him questioning the depths of human cruelty in his mind.

As he examined the grisly content, Mr. Murugan noted the absence of blood and any foul odor. It was as if the body had been preserved, frozen in time. The bone at the knee joint stood out, its whiteness contrasting starkly against the surrounding flesh.

Fear gripped Mr. Murugan, and he knew he had stumbled upon something far beyond his comprehension. He understood that he needed to report this gruesome discovery to the authorities immediately to seek justice for the victim and to ensure the safety of his community if indeed there is a perverted killer on the loose.

With a heavy heart and trembling hands, Mr. Murugan dialed 999. His voice quivered as he recounted the horrifying scene he had stumbled upon. The officer on the line assured him & told him to remain calm and that they would investigate the matter promptly, urging him to stay at the scene until the police arrived.

As Mr. Murugan awaited the arrival of the police, his mind swirled with questions. Who was this woman? What had led to her gruesome fate? And most importantly, who could commit such a heinous act?

Little did Mr. Murugan know that his discovery would unravel a web of secrets and unveil a dark underbelly that lurked beneath the surface of his seemingly peaceful neighborhood. The investigation that followed would shed some light on the depths of human depravity.

But for now, Mr. Murugan stood there, haunted by the image of the severed body before him. The world around him seemed to fade as the weight of the gruesome sight settled upon his shoulders. And in that moment, he hope justice will prevail for the victim, to bring the perpetrators to light.

2) Another Discovery 

In a chilling turn of events, the police had also made a sinister discovery just moments after the initial shocking find. Another report was received that another suspicious looking white box has emerged in a canal some 2km away from Mr Murugan's site. 

With bated breath, the officers opened the box to reveal yet another green plastic bag. This time, it contained the upper torso of a woman's body, with her arms and hands grotesquely intact. However, the most horrifying part was the missing decapitated head.

A massive search operation was launched by the police. A battalion of thirty Special Operations police officers descended upon the scene, scouring every nook and cranny of Mr Murugan’s estate and surrounding bushes, and the second site at the canal. Meanwhile, Police Coast Guard boats patrolled the river, guarding its opening to the vast sea for any floating objects and maintaining a vigilant watch over its access to the expansive sea, in order to intercept any potential evidence that may have been carried away from the canal.

3) Head Hunt

A few days later, the investigation took a gruesome turn. At a chilling Tuas incinerator plant, a decomposed head, wrapped in newspaper and callously stuffed into yet another green plastic bag was unearthed among the rubbish. Alongside the head, the woman's legs were also discovered. These macabre bags had been collected by garbage collectors from the Singapore River and transported to the plant, adding another layer of horror to the already nightmarish tale.

Meanwhile, the race against time to recover a final piece of the dismembered body which is the lower right foot seems futile.

4) Investigation Assembled

Senior inspector IO Roger Lim was assigned to lead the investigation, bringing his experienced team together to work tirelessly day and night in a race against time to collect any potential evidence before it vanished, with a particular focus on organic matters. Their objective was to uncover clues that could ultimately lead them to the perpetrator or perpetrators responsible for the crime. The inspector meticulously sifted through files of recent missing persons in order to establish potential connections and trace relevant leads.

After weeks of tirelessly scouring through various pieces of evidence and conducting multiple interviews with witnesses, the relentless efforts of IO Roger Lim and his team finally paid off. They had a suspect in mind, and after carefully considering all the facts, evidence, and witness testimonies, they swiftly executed their operation.

5) The Suspect

With precision and determination, IO Roger Lim and his team swooped down on their target suspect. The element of surprise played a crucial role, as the suspect was caught off guard and offered no resistance. The arrest was made smoothly, ensuring the safety of both the law enforcement officers and the suspect.

6) The Reporter 

In his quest to understand how such a gruesome murder could have occurred in low crime Singapore, Shafiq Ibrahim, a criminal correspondent, sought answers. He turned to IO Roger, who meticulously recounted the entire history of this criminal saga filled with forbidden romance, betrayal, and greed....after case was closed and justice eventually served.

As the story unfolds, it became clear that this murder was not just a random act of violence but a culmination of various dark forces at play. The seemingly tranquil backdrop of Singapore, known for its low crime rate, only adds to the perplexity of the case.

Forbidden romance, greed and betrayal  a powerful force that can drive individuals to extreme measures, played a significant role in this tale. The intertwining of two souls from different worlds, destined to be together against all odds, set the stage for a series of events that would ultimately lead to tragedy. The alluring power of love, combined with its forbidden nature, created a potent catalyst that fueled the actions of those involved.....

7) The Victim

At the age of 22, Jen was an outstanding scholar during her academic journey in Beijing, China. Her remarkable accomplishments at a prestigious university in China showcased her academic prowess. However, driven by a desire to embrace independence and broaden her horizons, she aspired to pursue further studies in Singapore. This longing for independence stemmed from her upbringing in the sheltered environment provided by her affluent business-oriented parents.

Despite her parents' initial concerns and reservations about her decision, Jen approached them with a well-thought-out and heartfelt proposal. As a devoted and dutiful daughter, she carefully articulated her aspirations, expressing her earnest desire to take this significant step towards her personal and academic growth. Although her parents initially harbored apprehensions, they ultimately yielded to her impassioned plea, recognizing the importance of allowing Jen to pursue her dreams and carve out her own path in life.

Upon submitting her application to a university in Singapore and successfully navigating through multiple stages and interviews, Jen received the long-awaited news of her acceptance. As the day of her departure approached, she meticulously prepared for the significant transition that lay ahead.

Recognizing the weight of this pivotal moment, Jen's devoted parents, who cherished her dearly, chose to accompany her on the journey to Singapore. Upon arrival, they wholeheartedly devoted themselves to ensuring that Jen felt settled and secure in her new environment. Together, they facilitated her seamless transition by assisting in the arrangement of her accommodation at the university's student hostel, providing unwavering support as she embarked on this transformative chapter of her life.

8) The Journey Begins

Upon commencing her academic journey in Singapore, Jen swiftly embraced the opportunity to forge new friendships while maintaining her exceptional academic performance. Her outstanding results and dedication to her studies did not go unnoticed, drawing the attention of Associate Professor Cheong, a distinguished lecturer within her faculty. Despite being a charming and accomplished individual, Professor Cheong was a suave looking  married man in his late forties with two children.

9)A Head Turner  

Jen possesses a multitude of remarkable abilities and a striking appearance that never fails to turn heads. One cannot help but be captivated by her lustrous long hair, which cascades down her back, adding to her allure. Her attractive features, combined with her slender and athletic physique, make her a truly captivating individual.

Not only does Jen possess physical beauty, but she also has a refined fashion sense that is a testament to her affluent background. Her impeccable taste in clothing and accessories never fails to impress her friends, who often find themselves admiring her fashionable choices. It is no wonder that her friends are constantly in awe of her and seek inspiration from her style.

Jen's exceptional qualities and stunning appearance have not gone unnoticed by Prof Cheong too who is equally captivated by her.  Jen's presence is truly magnetic, leaving a lasting impression on those she encounters.

9) Getting Too Popular

Her burgeoning popularity has inadvertently drawn the attention of individuals she would rather avoid. Among them is Rudy, a 2nd year student, who has become infatuated with her mere presence. Despite his attempts to connect with her, his struggles with low self-esteem have left him unsuccessful with the opposite gender, leading him to resort to the troubling behavior of stalking her wherever she goes.

On one occasion, someone sneaked into Jen's hostel block and managed to steal her undergarments, which she had placed outside her hostel room to dry in the sun to satisfy the perpetrators repulsive fetish. This disturbing violation of privacy deepened Jen's fear of unfamiliar individuals and eroded her sense of security.

Fortunately, the hostel security was strengthened, effectively preventing any further repeat of such incidents after she had reported.

10) An Illicit Union.

As Jen delved deeper into her academic endeavors and social circles, she discovered that her exceptional performance had captured a special attention of Professor Cheong. This led to them spending a significant amount of time together in private, whether for personal tutorials or simply to share leisure time.

As their bond grew stronger, it veered into an inappropriate relationship between professor and student. This unethical involvement intensified when Professor Cheong yielded to temptation and engaged in intimate behavior with Jen in his office, to which Jen unknowingly consented. Over the following weeks, this forbidden romance developed into a series of sexual encounters at different locations, including some seedy hotels.

11) A Mysterious Text  

However Jen received a mysterious text one morning warning her to be careful of Professor Cheong's advances. This mysterious text message just appeared from nowhere. A number which she has no knowledge of. She did not attempt to call the mysterious person for she feared for the unknown. However, this message led her to have a second thought about Professor Cheong.

12) The Discovery

Nevertheless, their illicit involvement still persisted despite the mysterious text Jen had received. 

One day, while in Professor Cheong's office, Jen unintentionally activated Professor Cheong's desktop computer as he had stepped out to retrieve some files from his car. To her surprise, Jen discovered shocking and baffling contents on the computer screen. While she was still in disbelief at what she saw, Professor Cheong returned to his office and noticed Jen's shocked expression behind his computer, he immediately surmised what she could have witnessed. He knew his game could be up if this is leaked. He angrily ordered her to leave his desk, causing Jen to panic and attempt to flee. Unfortunately for Jen,  Professor Cheong was able to caught hold of her, resulting in a physical struggle before she could make her exit. Given Jen's petite frame, she was no match for the strength of Professor Cheong.

13) The Vicious Struggle 

In a sudden and terrifying turn of events, he forcefully pushed Jen to the ground and began strangling her with an electrical cord lying nearby.

Desperate to defend herself, Jen fought back with all her strength. But Cheong, fueled by an unknown force, proved to be too strong for her. Despite her valiant efforts, Jen's fight was in vain. With each passing moment, her body weakened, and her struggles grew feeble.

As oxygen became scarce and darkness started to cloud Jen's vision, she realised the perilous situation she was in. Her body gradually went limp, succumbing to the unbearable pressure around her neck. As she struggled, As Jen accept the imminence of her mortality, she summoned all her dwindling strength to speak her parting words directly to Professor Cheong. With faltering breath, she whispered, "I will return for you," imbuing her declaration with a profound sense of determination and hope despite the frailty of her condition.

The once vibrant spirit within her slowly faded away, leaving behind only sorrow and unanswered questions.

14) A Desperate Disposal 

Cheong found himself in a state of panic. His heart pounded in his chest as he realised the gravity of his actions. At this time, he knew he had just committed a terrible crime - the life of a woman whom he had romantically linked with had been tragically cut short. Fearful of the consequences, Cheong knew he had to dispose of the evidence quickly and discreetly.With a cloud of desperation hanging over him, Cheong rushed out of  the office where the heinous act had occurred. He locked his office door hurriedly drove to a nearby store and purchased a large suitcase. This suitcase, he hoped, would become the temporary resting place for Jen's lifeless body.

As fate would have it, Jen's petite frame worked to Professor Cheong's advantage. With a sense of grim determination, he managed to fit her lifeless form into the suitcase without much trouble. He waited till the sun set. The weight of his actions bore heavily on him, but he knew he had to keep moving.

Under the cover of darkness, Cheong left his office, his heart racing with every step. The night became his ally, concealing his sinister intentions from prying eyes. He carefully loaded the suitcase into his car boot and drove off hastily. As he drove along a canal, he thought he would dispose the entire suitcase into the murky water, then he paused as recalled what Jen's final words, so he steered his car towards his home instead.

As he weaved through the city streets, Cheong's mind raced with thoughts of the life he had just extinguished. Guilt mingled with fear, creating a turbulent storm within him. His wife and children were away in Malaysia at this time, unaware of the darkness that is about to envelope their home.

15) Professor To Butcher 

Finally, they arrived at Cheong's residence. With trembling hands, he retrieved the suitcase from the boot. Each step towards his front door felt heavy, as if the weight of his actions was physically pressing down on him.

Inside his home, Cheong found solace in the silence. He knew he had to act swiftly and dispose of the evidence before anyone discovered the horrifying truth. With a heavy heart, he made his way to the kitchen, a place he had never imagined would become his own personal chamber of secrets.

While in the kitchen, Cheong meticulously planned his next steps. He gathered all his available tools, a saw, a mallet, a cleaver, even a blowtorch which his wife used for her cake-making. His mind is now focused on erasing any trace of his terrible crime. The night wore on as he worked tirelessly, driven by a mix of desperation and fear. Cheong labored to dispose of Jen's body with every tool he has on his hands, carefully slicing and butchering as if its a meat carcass destine for the wet market.

With each passing moment, his guilt grew, threatening to consume him entirely. The weight of his actions became an unbearable burden, haunting him all night.

In the end, Cheong's evil deed remained hidden from the world. He had successfully disposed of Jen's body, to 3 different parts of Singapore, but the guilt and remorse never left him. They clung to him like a shadow, a constant reminder of the darkness that existed within.

16) The Reporter Pursue 

Shafiq Ibrahim tenaciously pursued further understanding regarding how the police had identified Professor Cheong as the primary suspect in the crime. IO Roger Lim recounted that prior to the murder, there had already been ongoing speculation and investigation into Professor Cheong's unprofessional conduct and activities in his dealings with rich young foreign students. 

17)The Undercover Operative 

Rudy, the 2nd year student was suspected by some of Jen's fellow students to be the major suspect initially because he was seen stalking Jen. However, it was later revealed that Rudy was actually working undercover to gather evidence against Professor Cheong as he was involved in corrupt practices, accepting money from rich foreign students and sexual favours from the not so rich ones in exchange for better or good grades.

Rudy had followed Jen closely because she was Professor Cheong's new target and he was hoping to obtain more evidence against Professor Cheong. He even sent mysterious messages to Jen, intending to recruit her as a bait to help gather more information to nail Cheong. 

Unfortunately, before he could do so, Professor Cheong had silenced Jen and killed her in cold blood to prevent her from exposing his dark secrets. Despite the tension, Jen had showed bravery by quickly emailing the evidence to herself, her good friend Sarah,  before the scuffle in Professor Cheong's office.

18) I WILL RETURN FOR YOU.  

Thanks to Jen's quick thinking, she emailed Cheong's sinister content to her good friend Sarah before being discovered at Cheong's computer. Sarah promptly reported Jen's missing status and the email to the police. As a result, everything fell into place for the police to quickly identify Professor Cheong as the main suspect in a relatively short period of time. However, Shafiq and IO Roger Lim were curious about why Professor Cheong did not dispose of Jen's body as a whole. Instead, he took the trouble to bring her home & dismember her  and dispose  her remains in three different areas. When probe further by IO Lim about this, Professor Cheong explained that because of Jen's final words to him, "I will return for you," made him feel eerily uncomfortable. He believed that by disposing her in multiple locations, she would not be able to come back in her full entity to haunt him.

IO Lim said upon hearing that he instinctively rolled his eyes so  far back that he could even see the back of his brain as he injected jokingly. He thought to himself that why such a learned man would suddenly possess such superstition.

19) Return To Normalcy 

The murder of Jen sent shockwaves through the university campus, casting a haunting shadow over the entire community. After a year of trials and witness interrogations, Professor Cheong was ultimately sentenced to the death penalty for murder. This verdict was seen as the long-awaited delivery of justice, bringing closure to many affected by the tragic event.

As the campus began to heal from the scars of the past, Jen's memory lived on as a reminder that sometimes the most unexpected twists can lead to the uncovering of hidden truths and the triumph of justice.

The juxtaposition of such a heinous crime against the backdrop of Singapore's reputation for safety and security raises important questions about the hidden underbelly of any society. It serves as a reminder that no place is immune to the complexities of human nature and the potential for darkness in particularly greed that resides within us all, irrespective of how highly educated or how affluent one's background is.

How did such a gruesome murder,   from the  could have occured in low crime Singapore, asked a criminal correspondence Shafiq Ibrahim

This is the entire history of this criminal saga of Forbidden Romance, Betrayal and Greed.

20)Appeal 

HOWEVER,

In court, Professor Cheong maintained his defense as homicide rather than murder, he has appealed against his sentence. In his appeal, he argued that the evidence presented during the trial did not conclusively prove that he had the intention to commit murder. He emphasized that the incident was a result of a tragic accident rather than a premeditated act.

Despite the efforts of the defense team, the prosecution argued that Professor Cheong's actions were indicative of a deliberate act of murder.

It remains to be seen how the appellate court will respond to Professor Cheong's appeal. The outcome of this case will have significant implications not only for Professor Cheong but also for the legal understanding of intent and the boundaries between homicide and murder.

For now, justice is  put on hold, unfortunately. .....but Justice Will Prevail.