Several years ago, “Prank Videos” were huge on youtube. Basically a prank youtube channel would go out in public and they would do something to some unsuspencted person and they would film it and that video would get tons of views on youtube. During this prank era, there was one youtube channel that pulled off a prank that really stood out to amongst the thousands and thousands of others that were getting pumped out during this time. And the reason this particular prank stood out was because, 1) It was masterfully planned, and 2) It was brilliantly executed, but most importantly, it had MASSIVE intended and unintended consequences. And I’m talking international scandal-level consequences. And amazingly, this story is yet to be converted into a major movie so I would imagine that most of you have actually never heard it.
On the night of Febuary 12th, 2017, a young woman named Siti Aisyah was sitting with her friends a bar in Kuala, Lumpoor, which is the capital of Malaysia. Next to Siti at the bar was her producer named James. Siti met James about a month ago in January 2017 when Siti and some of her friends in this hotel decided to go out for the night. Siti very rarely went out. She just slept and worked and sent the money she made to her family. Siti and her friends were standing in line to enter a bar and a very handsome man, wearing a suit (James) walked up to Siti and said, “Have you done any acting?” Siti, wearing her best clothes and looking all dolled up, she suddenly felt bold. and she told this guy, whom she didn’t know, “No I haven’t but, I would like to try.” And so James asked her if she’d like to come with him and she said “Ok” and they went to this cafe and sat down..
Siti Aisyah (2017)
Siti the night at the bar with her friends
Photo of James --- Credit: Reuters
James explained to Siti who he was and told her that he was a Japanese TV producer who specialized in hidden camera prank videos and that he needed pretty actresses to pull off these pranks. Siti was skeptical at first but eventually, she would accept. Siti felt like a celebrity traveling in these private jets and getting all of these designer clothes. Siti grew up in a very poor family who lived in a tiny town in a jungle in Indonesia. Siti’s family not only was poor but they couldn’t afford for Siti to go to high school. Siti had to provide for her family and her son. She never had much wealth which is why she felt so grateful for all these clothes and vacations. Everything felt so surreal to Siti.
Đoàn Thị Hương the day of the big prank
One prank in particular, Siti was going to be paid 100 US dollars. Which was huge considering her home life. This prank required Siti and another paid prankster (Đoàn Thị Hương) to go up to a man, spray perfumes and rub oils on him, then run away and film the reaction. This prank took place inside a very busy airport. Everything went exactly as planned. Siti and Đoàn ran up to him, sprayed him with perfumes and rubbed oils on him, and ran in separate directions into the nearest bathroom. After that Siti and Đoàn couldn’t find each other or the production crew so eventually they both went back to their separate hotels. The production crew never contacted either Siti or Đoàn again. A few days later Siti was at the airport about to board her plane going back to Indonesia. She turned to her right and saw police officers running in her direction. She backed out of the way thinking that they were running past her but they ran right up to her, turned her around, and started putting cuffs on her.
Siti and Đoàn on trial
Artist depiction of the attack
Siti had no idea why the production crew had all of a sudden started ghosting her so she thought to herself “Oh this is a prank. They ghosted me because I’m a part of the next big prank”. Siti turned around and asked the policeman if this was a prank and he, very sternly, said “No this is real, you are being arrested."
So what happened? The “production crew” were actually secret government agents. And this high-paying “prank” was actually a successful assassination. The man that Siti and Đoàn attacked was a man named Kim Jong-Nam which is North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong-Un’s brother. The perfume and oil were chemicals, which by themselves are totally harmless, but mixed together creates a lethal VX nerve agent. Kim Jong-Nam died 20 minutes after the attack on his way to the hospital, after having a seizure. He died in the most painful, excruciating pain ever. Siti and Đoàn both were charged with the murder of Kim Jong-Nam and eventually were proven guilty on account of the fact that CCTV camera footage showed that they were handling these very dangerous chemicals so casually as if they didn’t know what they were.
I personally believe that if Siti and Đoàn had done research on this and actually looked into these producers more thoroughly, they could have prevented this. But with that being said if Siti and Đoàn weren’t the ones to do it, some other unsuspecting victims would have been tricked into pulling this “prank”. It is also WIDELY believed that Kim Jong-nam was murdered on the orders of Kim Jong-Un. I also believe this to be true. I think that Siti and Đoàn should have gotten a less harsh penalty on account of the fact that they literally had no idea what they were doing.
About the Contributor
Myla Wilkey
Orbit Online- Throwback Thursdays
Myla Wilkey is an 8th-grade IB major and has attended Classen SAS since 5th grade. She is a part of the National Juniors Honors Society and enjoys learning new things, playing guitar, and hiking.