North Korean entered country on worker’s pass

SHAH ALAM: North Korean Ri Jong-Chol, whose vehicle was used to ferry three of the North Koreans, who are still at large, during the murder of Kim Jong-Nam had entered the country on an employment pass ( pas penggajian), the High Court was told yesterday.

Sepang district police headquarters investigating officer ASP Wan Azirul Nizam Che Wan Aziz said investigations showed that Ri was a businessman, with qualifications in chemicals and information technology.

In reply to defence counsel Gooi Soon Seng’s question on Ri’s possessions at the time of his arrest on Feb 17, Wan Azirul Nizam testified that police seized 14 items that included a bottle of chloride (compound), four handphones containing Maxis and U Mobile SIM cards, two laptops, two tablets, one desktop computer, two pink gloves and a toothbrush at his residence in Dynasty Garden Condominium in Kuchai Entrepreneurial Park, Kuala Lumpur, adding that the items were sent to a police forensics lab in Cheras.

He also confirmed having seized US$38,000 (RM160,500) in cash from Ri.

However, he said the items were never tested for VX poison at the Chemistry Department in Petaling Jaya.

Wan Azirul Nizam also said the handphones were returned to Ri when he was deported on March 3.

To another question by Gooi, Wan Azirul Nizam said no subpoena or police bond was issued to Ri to compel him to stand as a witness in the trial as he felt that there was no need for it at the time of investigations.

Wan Azirul Nizam said he only took Ri’s statement once following the arrest.

The trial will resume on Monday.