Identities of four revealed

N. Koreans implicated in murder of Pyongyang leader’s half-brother

SHAH ALAM: The identities of the four men implicated in the murder of Kim Jong-nam, known previously only by their nicknames, have been revealed to the High Court.

In previous court proceedings, they were simply identified as Mr Chang, Mr Y, Hanamori and James.

Investigating officer Asst Supt Wan Azirul Nizam Che Wan Aziz testified that Mr Chang is Hong Song Hac, 34; Mr Y is Ri Ji Hyon, 33; Hanamori is Ri Jae Nam, 57; and James is O Jong Gil, 55.

Based on intelligence from Bukit Aman’s Special Branch, they are North Korean citizens.

ASP Wan Azirul said Song arrived in Malaysia on Jan 31, Jae Nam on Feb 1, Ji Hyon on Feb 4 and Jong Dil on Feb 7.

They left the country through the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) on the day of the murder, Feb 13.

“I requested for arrest warrants against the four through Interpol but there have been no arrests so far,” said ASP Wan Azirul.

Indonesian Siti Aisyah, 25, and Vietnamese Doan Thi Huong, 28, are jointly charged with the four men still at large, with killing Kim Chol, 45, at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 departure hall.

Kim Chol is the alias used by Kim Jong-nam, the half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, whenever he travelled.

Ji Hyon, Hong and Jae Nam left Malaysia at 12.30pm and headed to Jakarta, Indonesia, as did Jong Gil.

Based on CCTV footage taken at 2.38pm on Feb 13, a North Korean Embassy representative and the Air Koryo airline manager were seen buying a flight ticket at the airport for Jong Gil.

“Other footage showed the three other suspects meeting with the embassy representative and airline manager at 10.30am on the same day for the same purpose.

“The embassy representative and the manager used a special lane for certain staff members or others who have passes, at 4.15pm,” he said.

Answering a question by the media, ASP Wan Azirul said he found out the identities of the embassy representative and the airline manager from intelligence gathered by the Special Branch.

He conducted an investigation and recorded their statements.

“They said they were at the KLIA to help North Korean citizens leave the country,” he told the court.

The hearing before Justice Azmi Ariffin continues today.