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Si Ouey

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Si Ouey
Undated photo of Si Ouey
Born
Huang Lihui

c. 1927
Shantou, Guangdong, China
Died16 September 1959 (aged 31)
Bang Kwang Central Prison, Nonthaburi province, Thailand
Cause of deathExecution by gunfire
Resting placeWat Bang Phraek Tai Temple
Other namesSi Quey
Si Uey Sae-Ung
OccupationGardener
Criminal status
  • Executed
    (16 September 1959; 65 years ago (1959-09-16))
Conviction(s)Murder
(Guilt highly disputed.)[1][2][3]
Criminal penaltyDeath
Date apprehended
c. 1958

Si Ouey or Si Uey Sae-Ung (Thai: ซีอุย แซ่อึ้ง, RTGS: Si-ui Sae-Ueng, Thai pronunciation: [sīː.ūj sɛ̂ː.ɯ̂ŋ]), commonly spelled Si Quey and whose actual name was Huang Lihui (Chinese: 黃利輝; pinyin: Huáng Lìhuī), was a Sino-Thai gardener who became best known as a convicted serial killer. Si Ouey was accused of killing several children throughout the 1950s before being arrested in 1958 and executed in 1959. According to some sources, Si Ouey was allegedly the first serial killer in the history of modern Thailand. Many believe him to be innocent of the charges and a victim of anti-Chinese sentiment in 20th-century Thailand.[1][2][3]

Biography

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A novice monk viewing Si Ouey's body as it was displayed at the Siriraj Medical Museum in 2006. It was taken down in 2019 due to discussion about his possible innocence.

Much of Si Ouey's history is unknown; the Thai Department of Corrections was never contacted by a family member, and as of 2020 Si Ouey was considered stateless. One source states that Si Ouey was born in Shantou, China in 1927, and that he later fought during the Second Sino-Japanese War. According to Thai government records, Si Ouey engaged in cannibalism during the war, eating parts of his fellow soldiers when supplies ran low during a siege.[4] He emigrated to Thailand after the war.[4] Today, it is generally agreed that the cannibalism accusations against Si Ouey were false.[1][2][3][5]

During the 1950s, Si Ouey worked in a number of menial roles (several sources describe him as a gardener) before allegedly beginning his killings. From 1954 to 1958, Si Ouey was accused of killing several (sources disagree on whether four,[6] five,[6] or six[4]) Thai children, allegedly disembowelling, boiling, and eating his victims. Active in Bangkok, Nakhon Pathom, and Rayong, Si Ouey was arrested (reportedly while attempting to burn a body)[7] by Thai police in 1958 after which he purportedly confessed to the murders. According to Thai records, Si Ouey confessed to police that he targeted children as they were easier to lure. He also allegedly admitted to enjoying the taste of human flesh but later denied being a cannibal.[4][8] He was tried, sentenced to death, and executed by gunfire in 1959 at the age of 31. Si Ouey's remains were preserved and used for medical testing before being embalmed and put on display at Siriraj Medical Museum in Bangkok.[9]

Many have called into question his confession and trial.[10] Several note that Si Ouey spoke no Thai and as such may not have given an accurate confession, and that he was forced to use a translator during his trial.[11][4] Anti-Chinese, anti-communism, and anti-immigrant sentiment may have also played a role in Si Ouey's trial.[4] A campaign by humanitarian activists successfully campaigned for Si Ouey's corpse to be removed from display in August 2019, and in July 2020, his remains were cremated at Wat Bang Phraek Tai temple in Nonthaburi province.[11]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "Serial child killer, cannibal, bogeyman – or scapegoat?".
  2. ^ a b c "JUSTICE AT LAST? MUSEUM AMENDS DISPLAY OF ICONIC 'CANNIBAL'". 31 May 2019.
  3. ^ a b c "Thailand cremates Chinese immigrant serial killer Si Quey after body displayed for decades". 23 July 2020.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Krausz, Tibor (14 June 2019). "Could serial child killer and cannibal Si Quey, a bogeyman for Thai children, have been an innocent scapegoat?". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  5. ^ "Could serial child killer and cannibal Si Quey, bogeyman for Thai children, have been an innocent scapegoat?". 14 June 2019.
  6. ^ a b "Si Quey, Exonerated of Cannibalism, is Laid to Rest (Photos)". Khaosod English. 23 July 2020. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  7. ^ "Mörder im Glaskasten: Thailand streitet über Leichnam im Museum". HAZ – Hannoversche Allgemeine (in German). Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  8. ^ Martinus, Danial (21 July 2020). "A 'cannibal' who murdered seven kids is finally being cremated after more than 60 years". Mashable SEA. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  9. ^ Laohong, King-oua. "Cannibal killer Si Quey to be cremated". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  10. ^ Tassanee, Vejpongsa; Peck, Grant (23 July 2020). "Thai serial killer cremated after decades as museum display". AP News. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
  11. ^ a b Laohong, King-oua. "Serial killer Si Quey cremated". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
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