PETALING JAYA • A day before the very public assassination of the estranged half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, Indonesian Siti Aisyah had a wild night out with her friends to celebrate her pending success as an Internet celebrity.

Siti, 25, and Vietnamese woman Doan Thi Huong, 28, are accused of killing Mr Kim Jong Nam at Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 using a deadly nerve agent. Mr Kim died within minutes of the attack, the Malaysian authorities said.

One of Siti's close friends, who spoke to China Press on condition of anonymity, said they had chipped in to throw a birthday party for Siti at a well-known nightclub in Kuala Lumpur on Feb 12.

That was before Siti was scheduled to participate in a "prank for a reality show".

In a video shown to the daily, Siti laughed and covered her face shyly when her friends commented that she was going to be a "big star".

Her birthday was on Feb 11.

"I do not believe Siti Aisyah would kill someone just for money. It is impossible. I think she has been framed," said her friend, adding that she believed Siti was innocent.

"She is a very simple person and hoped to one day break into the entertainment industry. I knew of her ambition about a year ago," she said.

The friend added that she hoped Siti would be released soon and reunited with her family in Indonesia.

Siti remains in custody, and her last day of remand is tomorrow. The authorities have to either charge or release her.

Siti told Indonesian Embassy officials that she was paid RM400 (S$126) to take part in what she thought was a prank, which involved wiping Mr Kim's face with a liquid. Tests later showed the liquid was the highly toxic VX nerve agent.

Siti told embassy officials she was under the impression that the liquid given to her was baby oil.

THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK

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