Expert: Lethal nerve agent not found naturally in the environment

SHAH ALAM: A High Court here heard that the VX nerve agent that killed Kim Chol had only one use – as a chemical weapon.

Forensic pathologist Dr Mohd Shah Mahmood, 57, said the lethal poison did not naturally occur in the environment.

It was also listed in the Chemical Weapons Convention 1997.

The witness, who is the head of the forensic pathology department at Hospital Kuala Lumpur (HKL), said he was able to specify the exact cause of death based on the Chemistry Department’s report.

“If the cause of death was knife stabbing, I could only report it as ‘stabbing with a sharp and pointed object’ as I did not see the weapon used.

“But with the VX nerve agent, identification can only be affirmed by the Chemistry Department, which can assist me to confirm that VX was indeed the primary cause of death,” he said during a reexamination by deputy public prosecutor Mohamad Mustaffa P. Kunyalam.

The poison, which the witness said was a highly dangerous type of chemical weapon, was found concentrated on Kim Chol’s eyes and face.

“If you compare the two, the absorption rate for the poison is faster through the eyes than the face.

“Chances of survival are very slim,” Dr Mohd Shah added.

He explained that the VX nerve agent would cause complications leading to respiratory failure and could cause death.

The witness was testifying in the trial of Indonesian Siti Aisyah, 25, and Vietnamese Doan Thi Huong, 28, who are both charged with four others still at large with the murder of Kim at the departure hall of the KL International Airport 2 (KLIA2) at 9am on Feb 13.

Kim Chol was the alias used by Kim Jongnam, the 45yearold halfbrother of North Korean leader Kim Jongun, when he travelled.

Dr Mohd Shah said he was informed by a consultant forensic pathologist from HKL, Dr Norliza Abdullah, that the victim showed symptoms such as watery eyes, liquid in the mouth and breathing pipes, drooling, unconsciousness and seizure before his death.

“His vital signs at that time showed an irregular heartbeat and his blood pressure went high and then low,” he said.

He also said the victim showed no signs of a heart attack.

“The victim’s heart blood vessel was clogged with cholesterol fat between 25% and 50%.

“If the cholesterol fat was more than 70%, then the possibility of a heart attack could be considered,” he added.

The hearing continues before Justice Azmi Ariffin today.