KIM JONG-NAM’S BODY REMOVED FROM HOSPITAL FOR RELIGIOUS RITES
Police team meets N. Korean officials at embassy
FAISAL ASYRAF KUALA LUMPUR news@nst.com.my
THE body of Kim Jongnam was removed from Kuala Lumpur Hospital (HKL) as four police officers met officials from the North Korean embassy here yesterday.
A source revealed that Jongnam’s body was transported from the National Forensic Institute at HKL, where it was kept for 40 days, in a white Toyota Vellfire, to a location in Cheras for religious rites at 1.58pm.
A team of policemen from the Dang Wangi police headquarters as well as Bukit Aman’s special branch officers were seen in the compound.
Jong-nam, the estranged halfbrother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, was killed when two women smeared the VX nerve agent on his face at klia2 on Feb 13. He died en route to Putrajaya Hospital.
Earlier in the morning, a team of four policemen entered the North Korean embassy here and left after three hours.
The plainclothes police officers, including Selangor Criminal Investigation Department chief Senior Assistant Commissioner Fadzil Ahmat, walked into the compound of the embassy about 10am.
According to sources, the team held a meeting with North Korean officials, including several who arrived recently, in relation to the Jong-nam murder case.
Police, when contacted, were tight-lipped over the meeting. On the way out of the embassy, Fadzil was seen holding a file while three other policemen carried backpacks.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam yesterday said the government was expected to make a decision on the remains of Jong-nam soon.
He said discussions were under way with various parties, including Wisma Putra (Foreign Ministry), the Prime Minister’s Department and the North Korean government.
“I think we will be making an announcement very soon, maybe as early as today (yesterday), on what is the decision of the government,” he said after officiating the construction of a new building at SJK (T) Bangi here.