‘Death was due to nerve agent’
> Post-mortem showed VX was used, court told
SHAH ALAM: The post-mortem report on Kim Chol, better known as Kim Jong-Nam, the estranged half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un, showed that his death was due to VX (nerve agent) poisoning following acute onset exposure, the High Court heard yesterday.
Kuala Lumpur Hospital (HKL) head of Forensics Department Dr Mohd Shah Mahmood, who testified as the sixth prosecution witness in the trial yesterday, said he conducted the post-mortem with his subordinate Dr Nurliza Abdullah at 12.45pm on Feb 15 which was witnessed by ASP Wan Azirul Nizam from the Sepang police district headquarters.
“Based on the post-mortem examination findings, supporting clinical history and positive laboratory investigation results, I am of the opinion that the cause of death was VX poisoning following acute onset exposure.”
Siti and Doan, along with four others still at large, were charged with the murder of Jong-Nam, 45, at the kllia2 departure hall at 9am on Feb 13 this year.
Mohd Shah testified that the results of the post-mortem revealed that the deceased had been on medication for “diabetes, hypertension and gout in blood, urine and tissues”.
Earlier, the toxicology report from analysis on the remains of Jong-Nam revealed that he had low levels of the cholinesterase enzyme, which contributed to his death.
HKL pathologist Dr Nor Ashikin Othman, 44, who conducted tests on Jong-Nam’s blood sample, said the condition could have been caused by either pesticide or work of the nerve agent.
The cholinesterase enzyme test on Jong-Nam’s remains, showed a result of 344 units per litre which was low in comparison to the enzyme levels of both the accused, Indonesian Siti Aisyah, 25, and Vietnamese Doan Thi Huong, 28.
The enzyme, she said, is important to ensure proper muscle and heart function.
Jong-Nam had also been in stable condition following medical treatment by the doctor at klia2 Menara clinic prior to being sent to Putrajaya Hospital.
Menara clinic doctor Dr Nik Mohd Adzrul Ariff Raja Azlan said he had found Jong-Nam unconscious after being informed by his nurse.
“I checked his vital signs when he was placed at the treatment room. His blood pressure had shot up to a very high of 220/129 before it went down to a low 70/40.
“His oxygen saturation level dropped from normal to 40% and I was unable to get a pulse reading.”