Singaporean woman killed in Spain: Judge orders extraction of data from suspect's phone

SINGAPORE: A judge in Spain has authorised the extraction of data from the mobile phone belonging to the suspect in the killing of Singaporean Audrey Fang, saying it could provide crucial information in investigations. 

Mitchell Ong, 43, was arrested on Apr 16 over the alleged murder of Ms Fang while she was on holiday in Spain. Her body was found on Apr 10 with 30 stab wounds, near a parking area for lorries in the municipality of Abanilla. 

The judge said that the latest order was relevant given the array of evidence pointing to Ong as the perpetrator of the crime, according to a report by Spanish news outlet La Verdad on Thursday (May 16).

But the data to be collected from Ong's phone will be limited to information that may be relevant to the crime. 

The judge also requested for the cloning of hard drives belonging to both the suspect and victim. 

Collected data will be handed to investigators to prepare a report. A hearing has been scheduled for next week.

In explaining the ruling, the judge reportedly said that the court is not dealing with mere suspicion, but with clear evidence and objective indication of the suspect's involvement.

Such evidence includes security camera footage, and data provided by telecommunications operators.

Previously, it was reported that a car rented by Ong was caught on closed-circuit television at the location where Ms Fang's body was found.

La Verdad also reported that the soles of the €935 (US$1,000) limited edition Nike sneakers that were in Ong's hotel room matched footprints found at the crime scene.

Earlier this week, the Spanish court requested Ms Fang's and Ong's banking and insurance information from Singapore authorities - including funds movements and accounts opened. 

The court heard that this was "especially relevant" information as a Central Provident Fund (CPF) nomination note dated Mar 24 was found on Ms Fang's iPad.

The note stated that Ms Fang had decided to nominate an unknown person for her CPF money because the person was her "long-time friend and trusted confidant". 

In April, Ms Fang's family also found two investment-linked insurance policies that she had bought from Ong in 2015.