Litvinenko suspect wanted to be a porn star, inquiry told

One of the men suspected of murdering poisoned spy Alexander Litvinenko wanted to be a “porno star” and had no links to the gas and oil industry as he claimed, an inquiry has heard.

Dmitri Kovtun struggled with a drink problem and worked as a waiter and pot washer in restaurants in Germany before he reunited with his childhood friend, former KGB officer Andrei Lugovoi, in Russia in June 2006, his former wives said in police interviews read to the Royal Courts of Justice.

Both men are prime suspects in the murder of Mr Litvinenko, 43, who died nearly three weeks after he consumed tea laced with polonium-210 on November 1, 2006 at the Millennium Hotel in London’s Grosvenor Square. They deny any involvement and remain in Russia.

Detective Inspector Craig Mascall from the Metropolitan Police’s counter-terrorism unit told the inquiry into Mr Litvinenko’s death that British officers travelled to Moscow to interview Mr Lugovoi and Mr Kovtun in December 2006.

During the interview, Mr Kovtun listed his jobs as director general of gas and oil provider Global Project and as an employee of Continental Petroleum Limited, the inquiry heard.

But in an extract of a police interview given by his ex-wife Inne Hohne, which was read to the court, she said: “Dmitri wanted to be a porno star. He never said anything about any brokerage deals or sales. I have now read his interview in (German newspaper) Spiegel and have read that there was trade with gas and with oil. I can only say that this has absolutely nothing to do with Dmitri.”

Mr Kovtun’s second wife Marina Wall also told police her ex-husband had worked as a waiter and pot washer in restaurants in Germany before he began working with Mr Lugovoi in Russia.

Mr Kovtun and Mr Lugovoi had known each since childhood and attended the same military academy in Russia, the court heard.

Mr Kovtun was stationed in Germany with the Russian army but fled to Hamburg and sought political asylum after getting married, the inquiry was told.

The inquiry heard that Mr Lugovoi, now a Russian politician, was in hospital for exposure to radioactive material when Scotland Yard officers questioned him in Moscow.