Mystery N. Korean may still be here, court told

SHAH ALAM: A North Korean man whose photo was found in Indonesian Siti Aisyah’s handphone could still be in Malaysia, the High Court heard.

Investigating officer Asst Supt Wan Azirul Nizam Che Wan Aziz agreed with defence lawyer Gooi Soon Seng’s suggestion that he did not make a record of Ri Ji-u's goings in and out of the country.

The 30-year-old mystery man's involvement in the case has not been established except that the first accused had two photos of him in her handphone.

Gooi: Have you ever investigated about somebody known as Ri Ji-u, passport number 745320046?

ASP Wan Azirul: Yes.

Gooi: Ji-u departed from Kuala Lumpur to Phnom Penh on Flight MAS 763 on Jan 17.

ASP Wan Azirul: I'm not sure.

Gooi: I put it to you, Ji-u had entered Malaysia on Flight MAS 750 on Jan 21 from Phnom Penh.

ASP Wan Azirul: I'm not sure. I have already answered this.

Gooi: My earlier question was on him leaving Malaysia, now I'm asking about him entering Malaysia.

ASP Wan Azirul: I don't know.

Gooi: So you don't know whether Ji-u is still in Malaysia or otherwise?

ASP Wan Azirul: I agree.

On the condominium unit that was believed to be used as a laboratory to produce VX nerve agent, the witness said the unit was rented to Ri Jong Chol since May 19, 2015 for RM1,700 monthly.

“The payment was done in cash where the owner came by to pick up the money after the tenant contacted him between the 20th and the 23rd of each month,” ASP Wan Azirul said.

On Thursday, the witness testified that the police seized a bottle of chloride, gloves, a toothbrush and US$38,000 (RM160,626), among others, during the raid at the condominium in Kuala Lumpur.

Yesterday, ASP Wan Azirul also told the court that the money that was seized was given to Jong Chol by four North Korean men in October last year “to buy soft noodles to be sent back to North Korea”.

The witness also admitted that he did not conduct further investigation into the matter.

The police officer was testifying in the trial of Indonesian Siti Aisyah, 25, and Vietnamese Doan Thi Huong, 28, who are jointly charged, with four men still at large, with killing Kim Chol, 45, at the KLIA2 departure hall.

Kim Chol is the alias used by Kim Jong-nam, the half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, whenever he travelled.

The hearing continues before Justice Azmi Ariffin today.