Si Ouey, or Si Uey Sae-Ung—commonly spelled Si Quey, whose real name was Huang
Lihui—was a Chinese-Thai gardener who became best known as a convicted serial
killer. Si Ouey was accused of killing several children during the 1950s before
being arrested in 1958 and executed in 1959. To this day, many believe he is
innocent of the charges and a victim of anti-Chinese sentiment in 20th-century
Thailand.
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Background.
Much of Si Ouey’s history remains unknown; no family member ever contacted the
Thai Department of Corrections, and as of 2020, Si Ouey was considered
stateless (a person not recognized by any country as a citizen under its
laws). One source claims that Si Ouey was born in Shantou, China, in 1927, and
that he later fought in 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 out during a siege. He
emigrated to Thailand after the war.
During the 1950s, Si Ouey worked in a series of low-level jobs (various
sources describe him as a gardener) before allegedly beginning his killing
spree. From 1954 to 1958, Si Ouey was accused of killing several (sources
disagree on whether four, five, or six) Thai children, allegedly
disemboweling, boiling, and eating his victims. Active in Bangkok, Nakhon
Pathom, and Rayong,
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Arrest.
Si Ouey was arrested (allegedly while attempting to burn a body) by Thai
police in 1958, after which he reportedly confessed to the murders. According
to Thai records, Si Ouey confessed to the police that he attacked the children
because they were easier to lure. He also allegedly admitted to enjoying the
taste of human flesh, but later denied being a cannibal. He was tried,
sentenced to death, and executed by firing squad on September 17, 1959, at the
age of 31.
Preservation of the corpse.
Si Ouey's remains were preserved and used for medical research before being
embalmed and put on display at the Siriraj Medical Museum in Bangkok.
Innocent?
Many have cast doubt on his confession and trial. Several point out that Si
Ouey did not speak Thai and, as such, may not have given an accurate
confession, and that he was forced to use an interpreter during his trial.
Anti-Chinese, anti-communist, and anti-immigrant sentiment may also have
played a role in Si Ouey’s trial. A campaign by human rights activists
succeeded in having Si Ouey’s body removed from public display in August 2019,
and in July 2020, his remains were cremated at Wat Bang Phraek Tai temple.
Urban legend.
Over the years, Si Ouey became an “urban legend” that parents told their
children as a warning: “Don't go out at night, or Si Ouey will come and eat
your liver.”
Additional information.
According to some sources, Ouey was allegedly the first serial killer in
modern Thai history.
Today, it is generally accepted that the accusations of cannibalism against Si
Ouey were false.
Si Ouey's funeral.
(Subtitles within YouTube).
