A four-year-old girl, Megan, died after being punched in the stomach by her mother’s boyfriend, Wong Shi Xiang, on February 21, 2020. Instead of seeking medical help, Wong and the child's mother, Foo Li Ping, took drugs at home.

In a shocking attempt to cover up the crime, the couple, with the help of their friend Nouvelle Chua Ruoshi, burned Megan’s body in a custom-built barrel and scattered her ashes at sea. Her remains were never recovered.

On Friday (Feb 28), the High Court convicted Wong, 38, and Foo, 29, of multiple offenses, including culpable homicide, child abuse, and obstruction of justice. Wong faces a potential sentence of 28 to 30 years in prison and 15 to 17 strokes of the cane, while prosecutors are seeking 15 to 20 years of jail time for Foo. Their sentencing is scheduled for April 3.

The abuse began in 2019 when Megan started living with the couple. She was repeatedly caned, starved, and humiliated. Wong and Foo deprived her of food, forced her to sleep in a planter box, and subjected her to degrading punishments. Videos presented in court revealed the extent of the cruelty, including forcing Megan to wear a soiled diaper on her head and denying her food while eating in front of her.

On the night of her death, Megan collapsed after Wong struck her. The couple, along with Chua, failed to get medical help and instead attempted unorthodox resuscitation methods, including using makeshift defibrillation and forcing drug smoke into her mouth. When these failed, they wrapped her body in plastic and cement before incinerating it months later.

The crime came to light in July 2020 when Megan’s biological father, Khung Wei Nan, lodged a police report. The trio was arrested shortly after.

Chua, 35, is facing separate legal proceedings for her role in the case.

Source / Image Credit : CNA, TNP