Condominium unit used to process VX nerve agent that killed Kim Chol

SHAH ALAM: The condominium unit of a man named Ri Jong-chol was believed to have been turned into a clandestine laboratory to produce VX nerve agent, the chemical weapon which killed North Korean Kim Chol, who was claimed to be Kim Jong-nam, the estranged half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, the High Court heard.

Assistant Superintendent Wan Azirul Nizam Che Wan Aziz said police raided the place after suspecting that the unit was being used to produce the nerve agent.

He was testifying at the trial of Indonesian Siti Aisyah, 25, and Vietnamese Doan Thi Huong, 28, who were charged with murdering Kim Chol, along with four others still at large, at klia2 on Feb 13.

He said during the raid, police seized, among others, a bottle of chloride, gloves, a toothbrush and cash totalling US$38,000 (RM160,626).

Azirul said the items, except for the money, were sent to the Department of Chemistry for analysis.

He said the other items seized from the house were four handphones, four SIM cards, two tablets, two laptops and a desktop computer. These were sent to the forensics department in Cheras for analysis.

When asked by Siti Aisyah’s counsel, Gooi Soon Seng, whether investigations were done to detect the presence of the VX agent in the house, Azirul said he did.

“I investigated whether there was any presence of VX by sending the items seized from the house to the Department of Chemistry for analysis,” he said.

He also told the court that North Korean Jong-chol, the registered owner of a Naza Ria used to transport three North Korean suspects still at large from klia2 to the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) after the incident, entered Malaysia using a work visa.

“According to Jong-chol’s statement, he was a trader at the time of arrest,” Azirul said.

However, when asked by Gooi whether Jong-chol was the main suspect in the case, Azirul disagreed.

Gooi: How long was he (Ri Jong-chol) detained?

Azirul: About two weeks. Gooi: When was he arrested? Azirul: On Feb 17 this year. Gooi: Where was he arrested?

Azirul: At the Dynasty Garden condominium in Kuala Lumpur.

Gooi: I suggest that Ri Jongchol is a science graduate majoring in chemistry.

Azirul: Yes, I agree. He is also an IT expert.

Gooi: Is Ri Jong-chol one of the suspects (in this case) because the car was registered under his name?

Azirul: I agree.

When asked by Gooi why police did not seize any of Jongchol’s clothes or nail clippings to detect the presence of the VX agent, Azirul said it was not necessary at the time.

The court also heard that Jong-chol was deported on March 3 after having his statement recorded by Azirul.

To a question by Gooi whether it would be difficult to subpoena a deported person as a witness, Azirul said they could be recalled.

However, Azirul said he did not receive any orders to subpoena Jong-chol.

Trial before judge Datuk Azmi Ariffin continues on Monday.