SINGAPORE, April 1 — The pre-trial detention of Mitchell Ong, the suspected killer of Singaporean Audrey Fang in 2024, has been extended by another two years in Spain, the court confirmed.

The decision was made by the Court of First in the town of Cieza, which cited what it described as “rational, clear and consistent” evidence against Ong and concerns that he could flee if released, Spanish news outlet La Verdad reported yesterday.

Lawyer Manuel Martínez, representing Fang’s family as a private prosecutor, had requested the extension, a move also backed by the Spanish Public Prosecutor’s Office.

Lawyer María Jesús Ruiz de Castañeda, defending Ong, had asked for provisional release under less restrictive measures, such as weekly court appearances or electronic monitoring.

The Spanish judge rejected the defence’s requests, noting that the possibility of a long prison sentence could trigger Ong’s “desire to flee”.

The judge ruled that the pre-trial detention is a “proportionate, suitable and necessary” measure given the seriousness of the crime, the strength of the evidence, and the imminent conclusion of the investigation.

Ong, a Singaporean with no financial or residential ties to Spain, was considered a flight risk by the court, which said even the offer of a local residence would not mitigate that risk.

Both the Public Prosecutor’s Office and the private prosecution have indicated they will formally charge Ong with murder once the investigation concludes.

Ong, 43, was arrested in Spain on April 16, 2024, six days after Fang was found dead at age 39 with 30 stab wounds in a field in Abanilla.

The court’s decision ensures Ong remains in custody while awaiting trial by jury, which could see him face a prison sentence of 15 to 25 years if convicted.