The Hong Kong court has sentenced the ex-mother-in-law of murdered model Abby Choi (Thai Thien Phuong) to 18 months in prison for helping her son evade authorities following the gruesome killing that shocked Asia.
On October 28, Judge Chan Kwong-chi ruled that Lai Sui-heung, 66, had deliberately concealed the whereabouts of her son Kwong Kong-chi, the prime suspect in Choi’s murder, after he was wanted for stealing her property. Lai also attempted to persuade Choi’s mother to withhold information from the police, obstructing the investigation.
The judge described Lai’s actions as “blind indulgence of her son” and “showing contempt for the law.”
“There are no ‘what-ifs’ in history,” he said. “Had the defendant allowed justice to take its course, urging her son to face the consequences of his actions, perhaps this tragedy could have been avoided.”
Lai has already served 16 months in detention and is expected to complete her remaining sentence soon. This is the third conviction connected to the case: in June 2024, Kwong Kong-chi was sentenced to 3.5 years in prison for theft and absconding, while two accomplices, Lam Shun and Poon Siu-yin, received six-month sentences in June 2025.
A shocking and brutal murder
The case began on February 21, 2023, when Abby Choi, a 28-year-old model and social media influencer, was reported missing. Three days later, her headless and dismembered body was discovered inside a rented house in Tai Po, Hong Kong.
Police found parts of her body stored in a refrigerator and others boiled in soup pots, alongside a meat grinder and electric saw — suggesting a premeditated killing.
Investigators believe the motive stemmed from a dispute over a luxury multimillion-dollar apartment at Kadoorie Hill in Kowloon Tong. The property, originally purchased under her former father-in-law’s name, was allegedly transferred by Choi without consent, triggering a bitter conflict.
Her ex-husband Kwong Kong-chi, his brother Kwong Kong-kit (Choi’s driver), and their father Kwong Kau are the main murder suspects. All three could face life imprisonment if convicted.
A case that stunned Hong Kong
Seven people have been arrested, including Lai Sui-heung and Ng Ngai-wing, the girlfriend of Kwong Kau. Kwong Kong-chi was captured while attempting to flee Hong Kong by sea to mainland China. Traces of Choi’s blood were later found in her ex-brother-in-law’s vehicle.
The murder sent shockwaves through Hong Kong and beyond due to both its brutality and the twisted family ties involved.
Choi, who had over 100,000 Instagram followers, was a rising fashion figure and socialite often seen at luxury events and in high-end magazines.
The main murder trial continues in 2025, with proceedings expected to last several more months.
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Source: Vietnam Insider