The High Court in Shah Alam was told today that the Indonesian woman Siti Aisyah charged with murdering Kim Jong-nam, the North Korean leader’s half-brother, was paid RM400 by a man known as James or Ri Ji-u to perform three pranks at a shopping mall in Bukit Bintang.

The pranks were recorded at the fountain near the entrance of the mall on Jan 5 last year, and James had told Siti Aisyah that the recording would later be uploaded on YouTube.

This was suggested by lawyer Gooi Soon Seng representing Siti Aisyah, 26, during cross-examination on investigating officer Wan Azirul Nizam Che Wan Aziz, 40.

On Gooi’s suggestion, the ninth witness agreed that Siti Aisyah was paid RM400 to perform the pranks, but on the location and time of the performances, he said he “didn’t know.”

The witness also agreed to the suggestion that Siti Aisyah had paid RM100 to taxi driver Kamaruddin Masiod, or John, who introduced her to James, before being sent to the Flamingo Hotel in Ampang, after the acts were recorded at the shopping mall.

The witness said this on the 28th day of the trial of Siti Aisyah and Doan Thi Huong, 29, who were charged together with four others still at large with murdering Kim at the departure hall of KLIA2, Sepang at about 9am on Feb 13, 2017.

Wan Azirul Nizam also agreed with Gooi's suggestion that Kamaruddin first approached Siti Aisyah while waiting for passengers at the Beach Club in Kuala Lumpur at 3.30am, but he could not confirm the date.

The witness, however, disagreed with Gooi's suggestion that Kamaruddin had asked Siti Aisyah whether she was interested in acting on a prank show that would be aired on YouTube, and that Kamaruddin’s boss was a Japanese scouting for acting talents.

Gooi: I suggest that Siti Aisyah did not know Kamaruddin before the first meeting?

Wan Azirul Nizam: Yes, agreed.

To Gooi's question, Wan Azirul Nizam said he did not remember whether James’ phone number was saved as “Japanese,” while Kamaruddin's was stored as “John” on Siti Aisyah's mobile phone.

On Kim’s accommodation in Langkawi five days before being assassinated, Wan Azirul Nizam said he had stayed at the Westin Hotel, but no statement was taken from any quarters in Langkawi.

In response to Gooi's question, Wan Azirul Nizam stated that the leakage of video footage related to Kim’s murder incident several days after the incident had nothing to do with him, as it was kept in good condition and he had full responsibility for the footage.

The trial before Justice Datuk Azmi Ariffin continues on Feb 8.

- Bernama