Dead couple found decomposing in Hong Kong flat in 'suicide pact'
PUBLISHED : Wednesday, 08 July, 2015, 1:27pm
UPDATED : Wednesday, 08 July, 2015, 6:54pm
Clifford Lo [email protected]
Police investigate at the flat where two decomposing bodies were found on Tuesday. Photo: Sam Tsang
Detectives investigating the death of an unmarried couple whose decomposing bodies were found in a Mong Kok flat on Tuesday said an initial investigation found nothing suspicious.
“So far, there are no suspicious circumstances over their deaths. At this stage, we believe it is a suicide pact,” a police source said.
“Initial investigation showed the man had financial difficulties. We are still investigating whether this is the reason why they committed suicide.”
He said a postmortem examination would be carried out to establish the cause of death.
The deaths of Cheung Wai-yan, 28, and her boyfriend, Ma Hon-choi, 40, were discovered in the eighth-floor flat of Wing Tak Mansion on Lai Chi Kok Road when the flat owner went to collect rent yesterday afternoon.
The owner called police at about 4.30pm when no one answered the door and a foul odour could be detected from inside the flat.
Officers discovered the bodies when they entered the flat with the owner.
According to police, the woman was lying in bed while the man was behind the front door. Officers found a tray of burned charcoal but no suicide note. Police believe the pair had been dead for several days.
No obvious injuries were found on them, nor were there signs of a fight or struggle at the scene.
Inside the flat, drug-taking paraphernalia was found along with a trace of what appeared to be crystal meth, also known as Ice.
“We are still investigating whether they had taken the drug before setting fire to the charcoal,” another source said.
Police are treating the case as “dead body found”.
It is understood the couple lived with their two-year-old daughter and four-year-old son when they moved into the flat about six months ago.
About a month ago, the two siblings went to live with their grandparents.
Police officers had previously visited the Mong Kok flat last week after the woman’s father reported her missing. Officers found her safe in the flat two days later.
The Samaritans provide 24-hour multilingual suicide prevention services in Hong Kong. Call 2896 0000.
