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Murder of Yong Boon Cheong

SOLVED2014Oil palm estate near Kampung Seri Paya, Batu Pahat, Johor, Malaysia3 SOURCESUPDATED JUL 2026
Illustrative

On 4 July 2014, 54-year-old Malaysian millionaire Yong Boon Cheong went missing after being seen at a coffee shop in Johor, Malaysia. Witnesses reported seeing a group of men assault him inside the shop and forcibly take him into a vehicle; bystanders did not intervene, believing it to be a gang-related dispute. Yong's wife reported him missing the same day. About 24 hours later, the burnt remains of a man were discovered at an oil palm plantation near Kampung Seri Paya in Batu Pahat, after a local resident smelled burning and found a human hand among charred debris under a burnt tyre. A pathologist determined the victim had been stabbed in the chest and burnt after death. DNA testing confirmed on 15 July 2014 that the remains belonged to Yong.

Police detained seven suspects on 8 July 2014 at a hotel in Iskandar Puteri; five were later reclassified as witnesses and released, while two men — ship cleaner Izwanuddin Kasim and Singaporean businessman Noriskandar Zainal Yahya — were charged with murder on 27 July 2014.

At trial in the Johor Bahru High Court, evidence indicated the confrontation began after Izwanuddin's car collided with Yong's, leading to a dispute over repair costs. The two men and Yong traveled to several locations, and Yong was assaulted at a restaurant when he attempted to flee. Noriskandar's girlfriend was later dropped off at a hospital, after which prosecutors alleged Yong was killed by Izwanuddin during the continued journey. Yong's body was subsequently burnt at the Batu Pahat oil palm estate. An autopsy found a fatal stab wound to the chest consistent with a brass knuckle blade found in Izwanuddin's possession, and a petrol vendor testified to selling Izwanuddin fuel on the day of the killing.

On 4 August 2016, Noriskandar pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of abetting the disposal of Yong's body and was sentenced to prison, with later sources indicating the term was revised to eight years. On 1 October 2017, Justice Datuk Mohd Sofian Abd Razak found Izwanuddin guilty of murder, ruling that circumstantial evidence proved beyond reasonable doubt that he had stabbed Yong to death, and sentenced him to death by hanging.

Izwanuddin's appeal was dismissed by the Court of Appeal on 30 September 2019, and the Federal Court of Malaysia affirmed his murder conviction and death sentence on 11 November 2021. Following Malaysia's April 2023 abolition of the mandatory death penalty and subsequent legal reforms allowing re-sentencing applications, it was not confirmed whether Izwanuddin applied for re-sentencing. As of 2024, he remains on death row. Noriskandar was released after completing his eight-year sentence in 2022.

Key facts

Victims
Yong Boon Cheong
Date
2014
Location
Oil palm estate near Kampung Seri Paya, Batu Pahat, Johor, Malaysia
Case status
solved

Case timeline

  1. 2014-07-04

    Yong Boon Cheong goes missing after being seen assaulted and forced into a vehicle at a coffee shop in Johor.

  2. 2014-07-05

    Burnt remains believed to be Yong's are discovered at an oil palm plantation near Kampung Seri Paya, Batu Pahat.

  3. 2014-07-08

    Police detain seven suspects at a hotel in Iskandar Puteri; five are later released as witnesses.

  4. 2014-07-15

    DNA tests confirm the burnt remains belong to Yong Boon Cheong.

  5. 2014-07-27

    Izwanuddin Kasim and Noriskandar Zainal Yahya are formally charged with murder.

  6. 2015-03

    Murder trial begins at the Johor Bahru High Court.

  7. 2016-08-04

    Noriskandar pleads guilty to a reduced charge of abetting disposal of the body and is sentenced to prison.

  8. 2017-10-01

    Izwanuddin is found guilty of murder and sentenced to death by Justice Datuk Mohd Sofian Abd Razak.

  9. 2019-09-30

    Court of Appeal unanimously dismisses Izwanuddin's appeal, upholding conviction and sentence.

  10. 2021-11-11

    Federal Court of Malaysia affirms Izwanuddin's murder conviction and death sentence.

  11. 2023-04

    Malaysia abolishes the mandatory death penalty, allowing possible re-sentencing applications.

  12. 2022

    Noriskandar is released after completing his eight-year sentence.

Best coverage

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People

  • Izwanuddin Kasim

    CONVICTED

    Ship cleaner found guilty of murdering Yong Boon Cheong; sentenced to death on 1 October 2017, upheld on appeal in 2019 and 2021.

  • Noriskandar Zainal Yahya

    CONVICTED

    Singaporean businessman who pleaded guilty to abetting Izwanuddin Kasim in disposing of Yong's body; sentenced to eight years' imprisonment and released in 2022.

  • Yong Boon Cheong

    VICTIM

    54-year-old Malaysian millionaire abducted and fatally stabbed in Johor on 4 July 2014; his burnt body was found the following day.

Roles reflect public records and court outcomes at the time of writing — supporting citations are on file under Sources.

Places

Oil palm estate near Kampung Seri Paya, Batu Pahat, Johor, Malaysia

1.8548, 102.9325

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Common questions

What happened to the victim?
Malaysian millionaire Yong Boon Cheong, 54, was abducted and fatally stabbed in Johor on 4 July 2014, and his burnt body was found at an oil palm estate the next day. One man was convicted of murder and sentenced to death; a second pleaded guilty to abetting the disposal of the body.
Where did the murder happen?
Oil palm estate near Kampung Seri Paya, Batu Pahat, Johor, Malaysia.
Who was convicted?
Izwanuddin Kasim (Ship cleaner found guilty of murdering Yong Boon Cheong; sentenced to death on 1 October 2017, upheld on appeal in 2019 and 2021.) and Noriskandar Zainal Yahya (Singaporean businessman who pleaded guilty to abetting Izwanuddin Kasim in disposing of Yong's body; sentenced to eight years' imprisonment and released in 2022.).
What is the current status of the case?
Status: solved.
More cases in Malaysia

Sources

  1. ENCYCLOPEDICMurder of Yong Boon CheongWikipedia · 2026-07-07
  2. PRESSContemporaneous coverage of DNA identification of burnt remainssinchew.com.my · 2026-07-07
  3. PRESSContemporaneous coverage of missing businessman caseguangming.com.my · 2026-07-07

Record history

First published
JUL 07, 2026