COPS PURSUING ‘IMPORTANT PERSON’
An ‘important person’ among several suspects sought, says Khalid
MORE arrests will be made over the murder of Kim Jong-nam. The IGP says one of the suspects is an ‘important person’.
The NST had reported on Saturday on the possibility of a ninth suspect in the assassination at klia2 on Feb 13.
KELLY KOH MALACCA news@nst.com.my
AN “important person” was among several suspects sought for investigation into the murder of Kim Jong-nam, the estranged half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said new arrests could be expected, including that of an “important” person, but declined to elaborate.
“I do not want to mention how many.
“If I did, they might escape,” he said when asked how many sus- pects were sought and if they were still in the country.
In an exclusive report in the New Straits Times on Saturday, an expert was quoted as saying that a ninth suspect could have been involved in the murder of Jong-nam at klia2 on Feb 13.
Previously, police had announced they were looking for seven North Koreans to assist in their probe.
On Feb 19, police revealed four North Koreans — Ri Ji-hyon, Hong Song-hac, Ri Jae-nam and O Jong-gil — had fled the country.
“We must first get the four men in Pyongyang, for whom we have secured an Interpol red notice, and record statements from the three other suspects, whom we believe are holed up in the North Korean embassy in Kuala Lumpur,” said Khalid.
The three believed to be hiding at the embassy are Hyon Kwang-Song, Hyon Kyang-song and Kim Uk-il.
A Vietnamese woman and an Indonesian woman have been charged with Jongnam’s murder.
They were believed to have smeared the potent VX nerve agent on him.
Khalid said this at the “Kembara Sang Saka Biru” programme held in conjunction with the 210th Police Day celebration in Jalan Merdeka in Bandar Hilir here yesterday.
Present were federal police management director Datuk Seri Zulkifli Abdullah and state police chief Datuk Abdul Jalil Hassan.
Khalid urged the North Korean authorities to cooperate and surrender the four suspects believed to be in Pyongyang.
“I do not want to interfere in political matters but it is our duty to solve a murder case in our jurisdiction,” he added.
When asked to comment on the possible involvement of a ninth suspect, Khalid urged the public not to speculate based on CCTV recordings.
“It seems that they viewed the video obtained from klia2 and started saying this person or that person had problems.
“Do not speculate. Everyone in the airport could be a target after viewing a week’s recording,” he added.