26YO S’porean Charged with Murder in JB Stabbing Case; Denied Taking Drugs Despite Being Tested Positive for It

In the wake of the recent horrifying stabbing incident in Johor Bahru, a new development for the case has emerged regarding the suspect charged with the murder of a 25-year-old Malaysian man, Xie Zhiyu.

For those unfamiliar with the case, here is a summary of the incident.

On Friday (27 October), a young man identified as Xie Zhiyu was discovered in the wee hours of the morning, with nine severe stab injuries to his chest, stomach, ribcage, shoulder, and back.

He succumbed to his injuries and died several minutes later.

Two S’porean Men and One Malaysian Woman Arrested After Connection to the Case

According to China Press, Xie Zhiyu was attacked outside a karaoke nightclub in Taman Sentosa, Johor Bahru, at about 3am on (27 October).

This stabbing incident involved two Singaporean men who were subsequently arrested in connection with the case.

The Malaysian victim, clad in a black top, attempted to flee but was chased and repeatedly stabbed by a man wearing a white top, as reported by Sin Chew Daily.

Surveillance footage of the incident reveals that the Malaysian man fled and tried to seek refuge in a chair at a nearby coffee shop not far from the karaoke venue. 

He was seen using his mobile phone before collapsing from the chair and landing on his side.

Nonetheless, sustaining a minimum of nine stab wounds, Xie Zhiyu tragically succumbed to his injuries on the ground several minutes later.

Malaysian Authorities Identified Three Suspects

The Malaysian police were able to track down the murder suspects when they were alerted to a “suspicious” Singapore-registered Audi sedan.

The car was being driven by a Singaporean man and had two passengers on board: another Singaporean man and a Malaysian woman.

Upon interception by the Malaysian police for further investigation, the Singaporean driver accelerated and attempted to escape them. 

However, he lost control of the vehicle, causing it to skid into the opposing lane.

The Audi then collided with two oncoming cars before ultimately crashing into a section of the gates of the Johor palace, all of this occurring around 5.30am.

26YO S’porean Charged with Murder in JB Stabbing Case; Denied Taking Drugs Despite Being Tested Positive for It

On 31 October, the court officially filed charges against one of the suspects, a 26-year-old individual named Fu Yiming, for murder. 

If convicted, Fu could potentially face the death penalty for the murder charge or a maximum sentence of up to 40 years imprisonment.

Additionally, he is facing a drug charge due to the alleged presence of methamphetamine in his body, a charge which he has vehemently denied.

The court brought charges against him for contravening Section 15(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, asserting that he tested positive for methamphetamine at the time of his arrest.

If convicted, Fu could potentially be subjected to a sentence of less than two years’ imprisonment or a fine of RM5,000 (equivalent to approximately S$1,432.81). 

Police officers escorted all three suspects, which included a Malaysian woman, to the court on 28 October to commence legal proceedings.

The older Singaporean man, who is confronting two charges, pleaded not guilty to both of them and was subsequently granted bail on 30 October.

The bail amount was set at RM12,000 (equivalent to S$3,446), with RM7,000 (S$2,010) allocated for one charge and RM5,000 (S$1,436) for the other.

The Malaysian woman was also released on bail after being arrested in the murder case.

Victim’s Parents Grieve Over Son

During Xie Zhiyu’s wake, his grieving parents expressed their belief that their son had met an unjust death. 

They fondly remember him as a devoted and filial son who alwats arranged their birthday celebrations. To honour his memory, his boss, who deeply cared for him, presented the family with numerous wreaths at the wake.

Xie’s father also conveyed that he did not recognise the three suspects involved in the case.