Thorough probe into suspects not done, court told

SHAH ALAM: Investigating officer ASP Wan Azirul Nizam Che Wan Aziz admitted to the High Court yesterday that the police had failed to conduct thorough investigations into the four North Korean suspects in connection with the murder of North Korean Kim Jong Nam.

Cross examined by defence counsel Gooi Soon Seng on the nature of police investigations into the wanted suspects namely Ri Ji Hyon, Hong Song Hac, O Jong Gil, and Ri Jae Nam, Wan Azirul Nizam denied investigations into the case were biased.

While he admitted of knowing that Hong, also known as Chang, had obtained a stay and entry permit from Indonesia’s Home Affairs Ministry, he denied any knowledge that Hong was a North Korean representative in Indonesia between 2016 and last year.

Wan Azirul Nizam also denied any knowledge on whether Hong had possessed a diplomatic passport or visa.

During proceedings, Wan Azirul Nizam was neither able to identify Jong Nam’s alleged mistress when Gooi showed a picture of North Korean woman So Yong Ra for identification nor confirm police investigations into the matter.

It was reported that So, a former air stewardess with North Korean airliner Air Koryo was wanted by the police for questioning in the aftermath of the murder. The trial will resume on March 14. Indonesian Siti Aisyah, 26 and Vietnamese Doan Thi Huong, 29, along with four others still at large, were charged with the murder of Jong Nam, 45, who travelled under the name of Kim Chol, at the klia2 departure hall at 9am on Feb 13 last year.