CASH was siphoned from the bank account of a student whose body was found dumped in a suitcase near York, just days after she was suffocated by an alleged double killer, a court heard.

Kyu Soo Kim, 32, is accused of murdering students Hyo Jung Jin, 21, who was found in the suitcase, and In Hea Song, 22, whose body was found in a house in London.

Kim denies the charges.

Miss Jin, a student in France, was murdered in October 2001 just days after arriving at Kim's guesthouse in Holborn, central London, it is alleged.

On October 30 2001, just after 2pm, £1,990 was withdrawn from her bank account in the space of just over 30 minutes.

The seven transactions using her cashpoint card occurred at an ATM machine near McDonalds restaurant in Oxford Street, London.

Sallie Bennett-Jenkins, prosecuting, told jurors at the Old Bailey yesterday: "There were two attempts at further withdrawals. They were rejected because of insufficient funds on the account.

"'Bank records also show the same card was used in the same ATM machine on October 27 at 3.45am in the morning when an attempt to withdraw £250 is unsuccessful due to the incorrect PIN number being used."

On November 1 Miss Jin's Credit Lyonnais card was used in Paris to withdraw a total of 5,300 francs - approximately £800 - in four transactions.

"That represents the maximum that can be withdrawn in one day."

It is alleged Kim paid a female friend to travel abroad to use the card to withdraw cash for him.

The court also heard that on October 31 that Kim paid £522, including a £300 deposit, in cash, to hire a Peugeot 405 until November 6.

It is claimed the victim's body was forced into a large suitcase, and then driven in the car and dumped 212 miles away in a country lane near Askham Richard.

Kim returned the car a day early and was refunded his deposit, the court heard.

The court has heard that Miss Song disappeared a month after Miss Jin.

The trial continues.

Updated: 10:11 Friday, March 14, 2003