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Tuesday 17 January 2006

Evening jog turned fatal

TheStar 16 January 2006, By TUNKU SHAHARIAH

SUNGAI PETANI: An evening jog in the neighbourhood turned fatal for a 25-year-old marketing executive. Choo Gaik Yap, who was jogging in Taman Ria Jaya around 6pm last Saturday, was found dead less than nine hours later. She had been raped and brutally stabbed.

Her half-naked body was found sprawled on the ground, about 200m from the housing area, at 2.35am yesterday.

Choo: Went jogging around 6pm last Saturday and was found dead less than nine hours laterIt is believed the victim, a Universiti Utara Malaysia graduate, could have been tailed by her assailant, kidnapped and taken elsewhere to be raped and killed before her body was dumped near the housing estate.

Kuala Muda OCPD Assistant Commissioner Law Hong Soon said police were investigating the case under Section 376 and 302 of the Penal Code for rape and murder respectively.

Police recovered a pair of blood-stained jogging shoes beside Choo's body.

It is believed earth found on the soles of the shoes matched soil from another residential area, about 500m away.

Choo's body was sent to the Sungai Petani Hospital mortuary after the Alor Star's police forensic unit arrived at about 4am yesterday.

Her family members were too distraught to talk to reporters at the mortuary.

Choo, who had been working for three years, and her younger sister had gone jogging together last Saturday.

However, her sister, who was trailing behind Choo, lost sight of her as they reached a secluded corner along a service road.

When Choo did not turn back after some time, her sister returned to their parents' low-cost flat in Paya Nahu here.

The family panicked when Choo failed to show up after several hours and lodged a missing person’s report at the Kuala Muda police headquarters at 8.45pm the same day.

It is learnt police have spoken to several witnesses.

Police also questioned the driver of a vehicle, which was spotted cruising near the victim around the time of the incident. The man was later released.

According to a neighbour, Choo often went jogging with her mother and sister in the evening.


Note:
Location near to Kelab Cinta Sayang, where most of the SP Runners do their short distance training (inside Kelab Cinta Sayang).

2 Comments:
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  • This news is really saddening. Everyone needs to exercise situational awareness. That's why I never encourage running with an MP3 player. Whether it's to prevent such incidences or traffic accidents. Perhaps in your group you guys can encourage group running. We already have too few women in this sport and this news do not help. As a group, we runners are definitely stronger!

    By Blogger Jamie Pang, at 9:41 am  

  • Ya.. the news still on for 3days. Latest, the suspects already caught.

    Running with MP3.. It depend on situation /location, should think twice and consider whether running in a group/alone/route. For runners, they should put themselves in-their-control.. such as running against traffic, against traffic, against traffic, wear reflexion apparel and etc.

    For women?!.. If apply every single running safety.. still dangerous to them. They are crazy "manimal" out there.

    By Blogger aharis, at 12:05 pm  

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