Cross-examination disrupted

> Relevant investigation papers not given to court

SHAH ALAM: The cross-examination in the Kim Jong-Nam murder trial was disrupted because the court was not provided with the relevant investigation papers.

High Court Judge Datuk Azmi Ariffin ordered the lead investigating officer ASP Wan Azirul Nizam Che Wan Aziz to supply the court with the flight passenger manifest of three of the four North Korean suspects named on Monday.

According to Wan Azirul, three of the four, who are still at large, have flown to Jakarta from the KL International Airport (KLIA) on Feb 13, the same day Jong-Nam was murdered.

“The trial would not be able to proceed without all the relevant documents in the investigation papers. Please provide the court with the documents,” Azmi said.

Wan Azirul had said that the four suspects – Hong Song Hac, 34, known as Mr Chang; Ri Ji Hyon, 33, known as Mr Y; Ri Jae Nam, 57, known as Hanamori; and O Jong Gil known as James – had fled Malaysia after the murder.

During cross-examination, he had trouble responding to lead defence counsel Gooi Soon Seng in relation to obtaining the real identities of the four suspects.

He told the court that he had identified the images of the four suspects on Feb 14, when he checked through the CCTV footage at the airport.

Wan Azirul added he had only identified the four with the pseudonyms and had only obtained their real names from the Bukit Aman Special Branch on Feb 17 and 18.

Gooi said there was no way Wan Azirul could not have known the real identities of the four North Koreans because he could have checked the flight passenger manifest or checked with the airport immigration.

“I don’t agree with that,” Wan Azirul said.

Earlier before lunch break, the court had to stand down for a few minutes because Wan Azirul, who has been testifying for several days, did not bring his Investigation Diary (ID).

Azmi had ordered him to head to his office in Sepang and bring his ID for the afternoon session at 2.30pm.

“Please bring your ID for the afternoon session. We will not resume the trial until he arrives,” he said before adjourning for lunch.

“The diary is very important, you must bring it to court. You do know that you will be taking the witness stand to testify today, right?”

Two women, Vietnamese Doan Thi Huong, 29, and Indonesian Siti Aisyah, 25, were charged on Oct 2 with the murder of Jong-Nam on Feb 13 at KLIA.