The Abby Choi Murder Case: Greed, Betrayal, and Dismemberment
- Cassian Creed
- Jul 26
- 5 min read
Abby Choi Murder Case Overview
The murder of 28-year-old Hong Kong model and influencer Abby Choi Tin-fung in February 2023 sent shockwaves globally due to its gruesome nature and the involvement of her former in-laws. Choi, a rising star in the fashion world with a significant social media presence, was found dismembered in a rented village house in Tai Po, Hong Kong. Her headless body parts were discovered in a refrigerator and cooked in soup pots. The motive behind the horrifying crime is believed to be a financial dispute over a luxury property worth tens of millions of dollars.
Key Individuals and Their Roles in the Abby Choi murder case
The Victim: Abby Choi Tin-fung (28)
Background: A Hong Kong model, socialite, and influencer with over 100,000 Instagram followers. She regularly attended Paris Fashion Week and was featured in prominent fashion magazines. She was also a philanthropist, co-founding the Paomes Charitable Organisation dedicated to helping stray animals.
Personal Life: Married Alex Kwong at 18 and had two children before divorcing him. Despite the divorce, she maintained close financial ties with Kwong and his family, even employing her former brother-in-law as her driver. She later entered a relationship with Chris Tam Fong-Chun, son of a restaurant chain founder, and had two more children with him, though their marriage was never legally registered.
Financial Standing: Estimated personal net worth of over HK$100 million. She had purchased a luxury property in Kadoorie Hill under her former father-in-law's name, which became the central point of contention.
The Primary Suspects (Former In-Laws)
Kwong Kau (65) – Former Father-in-law:
Role: Reportedly the mastermind behind the murder. He rented the village house where Choi’s body was found.
Background: A former police sergeant who resigned in 2005 after alleged involvement in a rape case. He was "unhappy with Ms Choi’s handling of a luxury property," which she had bought under his name. This property dispute, concerning "tens of millions of dollars," is believed to be the motive for the murder.
Charges: Charged with murder.
Alex Kwong Kong-chi (28) – Former Husband:
Role: Charged with murder. He was "wanted by the police for years after jumping bail in a fraud case," where he allegedly defrauded victims of about HK$5 million (S$860,000). He also faced lawsuits for over HK$1.6 million in debts.
Arrest: Caught in a police ambush at Tung Chung pier trying to "flee Hong Kong via a speedboat" with HK$500,000 cash and luxury watches worth HK$4 million.
Children: Has two children (a son and a daughter) with Abby Choi.
Anthony Kwong Kong-kit (31) – Former Brother-in-law:
Role: Charged with murder. He was Choi’s personal driver and former business partner, and they reportedly had a close relationship, with him referring to them as "siblings."
Financial Issues: Involved in contractual disputes and sued by a bank for unpaid debt.
Involvement: Reportedly drove Choi to her home in Kadoorie Hill to meet her before she went missing, and then drove her to pick up her daughter. Bloodstains matching Choi’s DNA were found inside his car, which was used to transport her before her death.
Jenny Li Sui-heung (63) – Former Mother-in-law:
Role: Charged with "perverting the course of justice" (obstructing the case). She was reportedly aware of the murder plan but did not participate in the act itself.
Background: A retiree declared bankrupt in 2017.
Other Suspects
Ng "Yung Yung" (47) – Alleged Mistress of Kwong Kau: Arrested for allegedly helping to rent the village property where the body was found and a luxury flat used to harbor Alex Kwong.
Lam Shun (41) & Irene Pun Hau-yin (29) – Friends of Alex Kwong: Charged with assisting Alex Kwong's escape attempt to Macau by yacht, although they reportedly did not know about his connection to the murder. They were aware he was on the run from police.
Discovery of the Crime
Missing Person Report: Choi was last seen on February 21, 2023, failing to pick up her daughter as planned. A missing person's report was filed on February 22.
Discovery of Remains: On February 24, "some sections of a human body" were found in a rented village house in Tai Po. "A meat slicer, an electric saw and some clothing in suspected connection with the case were seized at scene."
Body Parts: Police found Choi's legs in a refrigerator and human tissues in pots of soup. On February 26, a "skull and several ribs were found in a large soup pot." DNA testing confirmed these remains belonged to Abby Choi. The torso and hands remain missing.
Crime Scene Details: The house contained tools indicative of dismemberment, including a meat grinder, electric saw, and soup pots filled with human remains. Police believe she was killed and dismembered at this location.
Investigation Details
Police Efforts: Over 150 detectives from the Kowloon West regional crime unit were involved.
Key Evidence: "Vehicle GPS records and security camera footage" were crucial in tracking the car driven by Anthony Kwong to the village house. Police relied on this evidence after the former in-laws proved uncooperative.
No More Arrests Expected: As of May 2023, the prosecution confirmed that "all suspects connected with the murder had been arrested."
Motive
The murder is widely believed to stem from a property dispute. Abby Choi had bought a luxury property in the exclusive Kadoorie Hill neighborhood under her former father-in-law Kwong Kau's name. She planned to sell this property, estimated to be worth "tens of millions of dollars," and had "promised to relocate her ex-husband and his family members elsewhere." This decision "sparked fierce opposition from the elder Kwong," who had "several arguments with her." The family's "resentment and rage" escalated into the murder, driven by greed and entitlement. Choi’s mother later filed a court injunction to prevent Kwong Kau from selling the apartment.
Legal Proceedings and Sentences
Charges: Alex Kwong, Kwong Kau, and Anthony Kwong were charged with murder. Jenny Li was charged with perverting the course of justice. Ng Chi Wing, Lam Shun, and Irene Pun Hau-yin were charged with assisting a murder suspect or preventing the course of justice.
Bail: The four primary family suspects (Alex, Kwong Kau, Anthony, and Jenny Li) were denied bail and remanded in custody. Lam Shun and Irene Pun were granted bail.
Pending Trials: The murder charges against Alex Kwong, his father, and his brother are still pending and will go to Hong Kong's high court. No trial date has been announced as of the latest information.
Alex Kwong's Other Convictions: While awaiting trial for Choi's murder, Alex Kwong was sentenced to 3.5 years imprisonment for six unrelated charges of theft and jumping bail, to which he pleaded guilty.
Additional Charges: In December 2023, Choi's ex-husband and two former in-laws were additionally charged with preventing Choi's burial.
Public and Community Response
Shock and Devastation: The "gruesome killing and dismemberment" shocked Hong Kong and garnered international media attention, described as one of the "most hideous crimes in modern history."
Grief: Choi's current partner, Chris Tam, expressed his gratitude for her presence in his life and pledged to care for all four children (her two with Alex and their two together). Her mother and father-in-law also paid tributes, describing her as filial and doted on.
Justice Calls: Thousands of fans and netizens offered condolences, with some from mainland China suggesting the perpetrators deserved the death penalty, despite it not being applicable in Hong Kong.
Community Rituals: The community in Tai Po's Lung Mei Village planned Taoist rituals to "calm the spirit" of the deceased due to the horrific nature of her death.
Historical Context: The murder has drawn comparisons to other infamous and gruesome cases in Hong Kong, such as the Braemar Hill murders (1985) and the Hello Kitty murder case (1999). It highlights the rare but shocking occurrences of violent crime in the city.
Conclusion
The Abby Choi murder case is a harrowing example of how "greed and betrayal can destroy even the most glamorous lives." It underscores the devastating consequences of financial disputes escalating to extreme violence within family relationships. The ongoing legal proceedings aim to bring full justice for Abby Choi and her family, as the world watches the case unfold.
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