COURT ORDERS 2 WOMEN TO ENTER DEFENCE OVER MURDER OF KIM JONG-NAM
Indonesian and Vietnamese women charged with murdering Kim Jong-nam at klia2 last year
INDONESIAN Siti Aisyah and Vietnamese Doan Thi Huong were ordered to enter their defences yesterday for allegedly murdering Kim Jongnam, the estranged half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, last year.
Judge Datuk Azmi Ariffin had spent more than two hours reading his judgment in a courtroom packed with delegates from the Indonesian and Vietnamese embassies, policemen, lawyers and members of the media.
Siti Aisyah and Doan, who were brought into the dock at 10am, were calm and smiled at their lawyers when police removed their handcuffs.
Azman, in his judgment, said the court did not rule out the possibility that the murder was politically motivated
He said he was not persuaded by the defence’s argument that the incident could have been a prank for a reality show.
“Pranks involve practical jokes or mischief that do not harm the target or victim.
“However, none of those can be seen in the closed-circuit television camera footage tendered to the court.”
He said the involvement of four North Koreans who were at large — Hong Song-hac, also known as Mr Chang; Ri Ji-hyon, also known as Mr Y; Ri Jae-nam, also known as Hanamori; and O Jong-gil, also known as James — was minimal.
“I accept that the accused shared a common intention with the four individuals to cause the death of Jong-nam.”
He said the behaviour of both accused after the incident had shown that they knew the substance on their hand was the VX nerve agent.
“They rushed to different toilets after smearing the substance on Kim Chol’s face and (calmed down) after their visit to the toilets.
“This showed that they knew the substance was poisonous and could cause death.”
Kim Chol was the name used by Jong-nam when travelling.
He was about to check in at klia2 for a flight to Macau on Feb 13 last year when he was attacked and killed.
Azmi ruled out that the investigation carried out by the investigating officer Assistant Superintendent Wan Azirul Nizam Che Wan Aziz was biased and unfair.
Siti Aisyah and Doan decided to testify under oath.
Doan’s counsel, Hisyam Teh Poh Teik said more than 10 witnesses would be called, including foreigners.
The court fixed between November and February for the defence trial.
A total of 236 pieces of evidence had been presented in court, including clothes worn by both accused and victim, as well as CCTV recordings of the killing.
The two women were first charged at the Sepang magistrate’s court on March 1 last year before the case was transferred to the Shah Alam High Court for trial.
They were tried on a charge of murdering Jong-nam, an offence which carries the death penalty under Section 302 of the Penal Code.
Jong-nam, the eldest son of former North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, lived in exile in China and Southeast Asia following a fallout with members of his family.
Found with a passport with the name Kim Chol, he died while being transported to Putrajaya Hospital.