‘AIRLINE WORKER HELPED MEN ESCAPE’
Suspects flew to Jakarta after Jong-nam’s murder
AN EMPLOYEE of North Korean airline company Air Koryo, known as Kim Uk-il, had assisted three suspects alleged to have been involved in the assassination of North Korean Kim Chol in flying out of Malaysia on the day of the incident, the High Court heard.
Assistant Superintendent Wan Azirul Nizam Che Wan Aziz said Uk-il helped Hong Song Sac, 34, also known as Mr Chang; Ri Ji Hyon, 33, also known as Mr Y; and Ri Jae Nam, 57, also known as Hanamori, who were at large, with their flight check-in at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) on Feb 13.
He was testifying in the trial of Indonesian Siti Aisyah, 25, and Vietnamese Doan Thi Huong, 28, who were charged with murdering Kim Chol, along with four others at large, at klia2 on Feb 13.
However, Azirul disagreed with Siti Aisyah’s counsel Gooi Soon Seng that Uk-il had helped Mr Chang, Mr Y and Hanamori to get a taxi from klia2 to KLIA.
Gooi: Did the four men go to KLIA with the help of Kim Uk-il, an employee of Air Koryo?
Azirul: I do not agree.
Gooi: Did they check-in at KLIA with the help of Uk-il?
Azirul: I agree.
Gooi: So, Uk-il should have known they checked in through which flight?
Azirul: I agree.
Gooi: If Uk-il knew, why didn’t you get the passengers manifest?
Azirul: At the early stage of my investigation, I did not obtain any information on the four suspects or Uk-il. So it was hard for me to get the passengers manifest as it involved hundreds of names.
Azirul testified that at the early stage of his investigations, he did not know the details or identity of O Jong Gil, also known as James, also one of the suspects in Kim Chol’s murder.
When asked by Gooi which plane Mr Chang, Mr Y and Hanamori boarded to Jakarta, Azirul said he could not remember.
Gooi: Yesterday, during proceedings, you testified that the three men flew to Jakarta on Feb 13. Which plane did they take?
Azirul: I don’t remember and it is not in my notes.
Gooi: So until today, you do not know what plane they took? Azirul: I can’t remember.
Gooi: From knowing which plane, we can get the passengers manifest. Did you investigate the passengers manifest?
Azirul: I did receive the list. It is in my investigation papers.
On Monday, Azirul testified that through his investigations, he found that Mr Chang, Mr Y and Hanamori flew out of the country to Jakarta at 12.30pm on Feb 13 after the attack on Kim Chol.
Earlier, nine specimens from Kim Chol were brought to the court for identification.
However, the specimens were not opened because of their foul odour.
Azirul said the specimens comprised blood, urine, Vitreous Humour (eye tissue), stomach contents, bile, liver, kidney, heart and brain.
Trial continues tomorrow before judge Datuk Azmi Ariffin.
Kim Chol, 45, who was claimed to be Kim Jong-nam, the estranged half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, was killed using the highly toxic liquid nerve agent VX at klia2 at 9am on Feb 13.