PUTRAJAYA: Ri Jong-chol, the North Korean citizen detained as part of a probe into the murder of Kim Jong-nam, arrived at the Putrajaya Immigration Department here at 9.15am to initiate the process for his deportation.
The 47-year-old was transported to the department from the Sepang police headquarters after his remand period ended today.
He arrived in a police car with two traffic police, and was escorted by five police patrol cars.
The vehicles entered the premises through the basement parking entrance to avoid the media scrum which had been on standby at the main entrance.
A source said Jong-chol will have his fingerprint recorded and be issued with a Check Out Memo before his deportation.
About 50 members of the local and international press have been camped outside the Immigration Department from as early as 6.30am to capture the latest developments on the Jong-Nam murder case.
Attorney-General Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali had said yesterday that Jong-Chol was released due to insufficient evidence to charge him for the murder of Jong-Nam, the estranged half-brother of North Korean leader, Kim Jong-Un.
Apandi said Jong-Chol must be deported, as he does not possess valid documents.
Jong-Chol had been in police remand since Feb 18 after investigators discovered that he had driven one of four North Korean men wanted in the high-profile murder.
Jong-Chol was arrested by the police at his condominium in Jalan Kuchai Lama.