True Crimes Of Asia

Journey into the darkest corners of the internet, where a deadly connection was forged in 140 characters or less. Synopsis (headphones recommended): A special edition 6-part series by The Straits Times in Singapore, exploring recent real crimes that gripped, horrified and laid bare the issues that afflicted societies in Asia. This is the sixth and final episode of True Crimes Of Asia, a special edition podcast series that started on April 25, 2023. Warning: This podcast is an audio documentary of a real crime case which may be troubling and upsetting to certain listeners. This episode specifically covers themes of suicide and details of death and traumatic sexual acts. Listener discretion is advised, and helplines for mental well-being are provided further below. Nine heads and 240 bones were found in a tiny apartment just outside Tokyo on Halloween in 2017, in one of Japan's most shocking crimes in history. Takahiro Shiraishi baited suicidal victims on Twitter who wanted to die but lacked the courage to end their own lives. He posed as an expert in hanging but his real motives were sex and money. Shiraishi has been sentenced to death – by hanging – and is now in a maximum-security prison. The case had sparked conversations about social media scrutiny and suicide in Japan. ST's Japan correspondent Walter Sim narrates this podcast. Highlights (click/tap above): 1:16 Shiraishi's motives and modus operandi 5:47 What led Shiraishi down this path 9:28 Shiraishi meets his first victim 16:43 Justice catches up with Shiraishi  22:19 Social implications of Shiraishi's crimes, and how not much has changed since then Interviews & narration by: Walter Sim Executive Producers: Ernest Luis (ernest@sph.com.sg) and Tan Tam Mei (tammei@sph.com.sg) Podcast Producers: Eden Soh and Fa’izah Sani Voiceovers: Paxton Pang, Li Yi, Aqil Hamzah, Hadyu Rahim, David Sun, Edeh Soh, Mubin Saadat Copy editor: Choo Li Meng Reference for research: “Report: Nine Murders in Zama - Why were victims drawn to it?” by Tetsuya Shibui (『ルポ 座間９人殺害事件～被害者はなぜ引き寄せられたのか～』) MENTAL WELL-BEING Institute of Mental Health’s Mental Health Helpline: 6389-2222 (24 hours) Samaritans of Singapore: 1800-221-4444 (24 hours) /1-767 (24 hours) Singapore Association for Mental Health: 1800-283-7019 Silver Ribbon Singapore: 6386-1928 Tinkle Friend: 1800-274-4788  Chat, Centre of Excellence for Youth Mental Health: 6493-6500/1  COUNSELLING TOUCHline (Counselling): 1800-377-2252 TOUCH Care Line (for seniors, caregivers): 6804-6555 Care Corner Counselling Centre: 6353-1180 Counselling and Care Centre: 6536-6366 ONLINE RESOURCES mindline.sg eC2.sg tinklefriend.sg chat.mentalhealth.sg carey.carecorner.org.sg (for those aged 13 to 25) limitless.sg/talk (for those aged 12 to 25) Aware’s Sexual Assault Care Centre: 6779-0282 (weekdays, 10am to 6pm) Follow ST’s True Crimes Of Asia Podcast:Channel: https://str.sg/i44TApple Podcasts: https://str.sg/i44qSpotify: https://str.sg/i44cSPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/Website: http://str.sg/stpodcastsFeedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Read Walter Sim's articles: https://str.sg/ws6J  --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 ST Podcasts website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts The Usual Place Podcast YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa --- Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section: The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX --- #truecrimesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How the gruesome 1998 incidents paved the way for black magic to be criminalised last year in 2022, in the predominantly Muslim country of Indonesia. Synopsis (headphones recommended): A special edition 6-part series by The Straits Times in Singapore, exploring recent real crimes that gripped, horrified and laid bare the issues that afflicted societies in Asia. Episodes drop every fourth Tuesday of the month from April 25, 2023. Warning: This podcast is an audio documentary of a real crime case which may be troubling and upsetting to certain listeners. Listener discretion is advised. Sorcery is against Islamic teachings, but today, many in Indonesia still consult black magic practitioners for advice. In 1998, a series of killings by unknown masked 'ninjas', targeting suspected sorcerers in East Java, launched the community into a period of mass hysteria, violence and retaliation-attacks. The killings triggered discussions on the need and ways to regulate sorcery, to prevent similar instances and to stop people from taking the law into their own hands. The legal gap was finally plugged last year in 2022, when laws on sorcery were included in the revised Criminal Code passed by the Parliament. The government is also seeking to settle the case, along with 11 other human rights abuses, by non-judicial means.    ST’s Indonesia Bureau Chief Arlina Arshad narrates this podcast. The reporting and scripting for this episode was done by ST’s Indonesia Correspondent Linda Yulisman. Highlights (click/tap above): 4:20 Why sorcery has long been part of Indonesia’s life and culture, even among the nation's notable figures 10:05 From 1998 till 1999, a ferocious wave of hysteria spreads against purported black magic practitioners 20:15 Larger motives behind attacks? Understanding Banyuwangi region's history and Indonesia’s period of political transition 28:40 Were attacks likely carried out by trained assassins with links to the military? 33:35 Why it took decades to criminalise witchcraft and sorcery in Indonesia Interviews by: Linda Yulisman (ylinda@sph.com.sg) Narrated by: Arlina Arshad (aarlina@sph.com.sg) Executive Producers: Ernest Luis (ernest@sph.com.sg) and Tan Tam Mei (tammei@sph.com.sg) Podcast Producers: Hadyu Rahim & Fa'izah Sani Voiceovers: Hairianto Diman, Deepanraj Ganesan, Wahyudi Soeriaatmadja, Dominic Nathan, Lee Nian Tjoe, Colin Tan, Eddino Abdul Hadi, Ernest Luis, Hadyu Rahim Copy editor: Choo Li Meng Follow ST’s True Crimes Of Asia Podcast:Channel: https://str.sg/i44TApple Podcasts: https://str.sg/i44qSpotify: https://str.sg/i44cSPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/Website: http://str.sg/stpodcastsFeedback to: podcast@sph.com.sgRead Linda Yulisman's articles: https://str.sg/iif5 Read Arlina Arshad's articles: https://str.sg/iifS --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 ST Podcasts website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts The Usual Place Podcast YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa --- Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section: The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX --- #truecrimesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is the 2010 case that became a turning point in Thailand's debate over abortion.   Synopsis (headphones recommended): A special edition 6-part series by The Straits Times in Singapore, exploring recent real crimes that gripped, horrified and laid bare the issues that afflicted societies in Asia. Episodes drop every fourth Tuesday of the month from April 25, 2023. Warning: This podcast is an audio documentary of a real crime case which may be troubling and upsetting to certain listeners. Listener discretion is advised. Be transported back to the events of 2010, when the discovery of thousands of rotting foetuses, hidden in a Bangkok temple - led to more awareness and debate over illegal abortions in Buddhist-majority Thailand. The grisly remains at Wat Phai Ngern were traced to a network of clinics. The case uncovered the scale of the illegal abortion industry at a time when the procedure was still largely illegal and heavily stigmatised. ST's Thailand correspondent Tan Tam Mei interviews and narrates this podcast. Highlights (click/tap above): 2:03 A dog chews on something in the middle of a Bangkok temple; long-time temple worker Supote Leangbamrong recalls the stench and discovery by authorities in 2010 5:52 Shockwaves throughout Thailand; abortion hardly discussed and was largely illegal and taboo back then 08:57 Nursing assistant Lanchakorn Janthamanas's underground operation; roping in two temple undertakers to dispose of the bodies 11:40 Abortion activist Supeecha Baotip on how voices of women were missing in the discussion on abortion, her own story and how much has changed since the crime case17:44 Restrictions against abortion relaxed in 2021, sweeping legal changes in Thailand20:00 Cultural beliefs: Why some doctors don't perform abortions because they are afraid of karma23:09 Expanding availability of legal abortions and to change mindsets; abortion offered as a tele-health service in Thailand 25:05 Rumours about the souls of the aborted foetuses haunting the temple still linger, even more than a decade later Interviews & narration by: Tan Tam Mei (tammei@sph.com.sg)Executive Producers: Ernest Luis (ernest@sph.com.sg) and Tan Tam MeiPodcast Producers: Teo Tong Kai and Fa’izah SaniVoiceovers: Raul Dancel, Shahrena Hassan, Lee Nian Tjoe, Joel Chng Copy editor: Choo Li Meng Follow ST’s True Crimes Of Asia Podcast:Channel: https://str.sg/i44TApple Podcasts: https://str.sg/i44qSpotify: https://str.sg/i44cSPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/Website: http://str.sg/stpodcastsFeedback to: podcast@sph.com.sgRead Tan Tam Mei's articles: https://str.sg/iJxJ --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 ST Podcasts website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts The Usual Place Podcast YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa --- Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section: The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX --- #truecrimesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Headphones are recommended for this series. Synopsis: A 6-part series by The Straits Times in Singapore, exploring recent real crimes that gripped, horrified and laid bare the issues that afflicted societies in Asia. Episodes drop every fourth Tuesday of the month from April 25, 2023. From April till September 2023, listen to the events surrounding a spine-chilling find in a Bangkok temple. Or the gruesome death of a domestic helper in Singapore. But for the first episode dropping on April 25, you will discover a 21st-century crime that could well happen in more countries in an increasingly interconnected world. This was the insidious cybersex underbelly in South Korean society that trapped girls in a digital prison in 2019. We at The Straits Times, investigate how these tragedies left their mark on victims and communities, and also exposed the dark side of societies. Get notifications of new episodes on your favourite audio apps - Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Google Podcasts - when you follow ST’s True Crimes Of Asia. Executive producers: Ernest Luis (ernest@sph.com.sg) and Tan Tam Mei (tammei@sph.com.sg) Edited by: Fa'izah Sani Follow ST's True Crimes Of Asia every month here: Channel: https://str.sg/i44T Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/i44q Spotify: https://str.sg/i44c Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/i4Y5 SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/ Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg --- Discover more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 The Usual Place: https://str.sg/wEr7u In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt COE Watch: https://str.sg/iTtE Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7 Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m Hard Tackle: https://str.sg/JWRE #PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX --- ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa --- Special edition series: True Crimes Of Asia (6 eps): https://str.sg/i44T The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuZ2 Invisible Asia (9 eps): https://str.sg/wuZn Stop Scams (10 eps): https://str.sg/wuZB Singapore's War On Covid (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuJa --- Get The Straits Times' app, which has a dedicated podcast player section: The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX #truecrimesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.