SHAH ALAM, MALAYSIA: The wife of a man charged with murder told the High Court she knew of his affair with a woman from China.

Ho Woon Chen, 28, a marketing officer, said her husband, Kee Lian Kok, told her that he had a mistress.

Woon Chen, who was questioned by DPP Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin, said calmly: "He told me this a few months prior to my brother's death."

She said she had seen the "other woman" when Kee had taken her out for a meal with the woman and some other friends.

Woon Chen was testifying at the trial of Kee, 29, and his mistress, Su Qiaomei, 36, charged with kidnapping and murdering her 7-year-old brother, Ho Ping.

Ho Ping's body was found in a bag in a river in Perak.

Kee, a food-stall operator from Nibong Tebal, Penang, and Su are alleged to have kidnapped Ho Ping at 91, Jalan SS19/4A, Subang Jaya, at 7.30pm on May 18, 2006, and demanded RM500,000 ransom from the boy's father for his release.

They are also alleged to have murdered the boy at a plantation in Changkat Meranti in Kampung Baru Manjung, Perak, between 2am and 3am the next day.

Yesterday, Woon Chen said her father, Ho San Cheh, had never trusted Kee and did not allow him to be alone with Ho Ping.

When asked if she had been to Sitiawan, Perak, before, the witness said yes.

"Sitiawan is my father's hometown. We would go there during Chinese New Year."

During cross-examination by Kee's counsel, Puan Sri N. Saraswathy Devi, Woon Chen's brave front in relating her husband's affair crumbled when she was asked about her marriage with Kee.

The witness broke down when Saraswathy asked her when she married him.

Witness: I can't remember.

Counsel: What year?

At this juncture, Woon Chen was seen putting her hand on her forehead and crying.

Judge Datuk Syed Ahmad Helmy Syed Ahmad then asked if she was feeling all right.

The witness blurted: "We were all busy with work, I can't even remember my own birthday and you want me to remember all these things?"

The judge asked the witness to try to recall the year as Kee is also the father of her three children.

After a pause, she said: "We were married in October 2003."

Syed Ahmad then stood down proceedings to let her regain her composure.

After a 15-minute break, Woon Chen said her father perceived Kee as hot-tempered and rough.

Their differences and constant arguments were always because of money issues.

She also said she was separated from Kee for two months.

Counsel Leslie Bala represented Su. Hearing continues on June 23 and 24.