Kim Jong-Nam murder case: Air Koryo worker helped three suspects flee, high court told

SHAH ALAM: The High Court here was yesterday told that an Air Koryo staff known as Kim Uk-il had helped three male suspects in the Kim JongNam murder case to flee from Malaysia.

Sepang/ KLIA Police Headquarters senior investigating officer Assistant Superintendent Wan Azirul Nizam Che Wan Aziz said Kim Uk-il had helped Hong Song Hac alias Mr Chang, Ri Ji Hyon @ Mr Y and Ri Jae Nam @ Hanamori to check in for a flight from the KL International Airport ( KLIA) to Jakarta on Feb 13, 2017.

Replying to a question from counsel Gooi Soon Seng, the ninth prosecution witness agreed with a suggestion by the lawyer that Kim Uk-il knew the name of the flight taken by the trio.

On Monday, Wan Azirul Nizam in his testimony had said that the manager of Air Koryo and a representative of the North Korean embassy had helped the three suspects leave Malaysia by taking a flight to Jakarta, immediately after Jong- nam, who was using the alias Kim Chol, was attacked by two foreign women with the deadly nerve agent VX at the departure hall of the Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 ( klia2) on Feb 13 .

Jong-nam was the half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

During cross- examination by the counsel, Wan Azirul Nizam admitted that he could not remember the name of the f light the three had taken because it was not recorded in his investigation diary.

Wan Azirul Nizam said the specimens were blood, urine, vitreous humour, as well as the contents of the stomach, gall bladder, lungs, kidney, liver and brain.

While lifting up the white styrofoam box, he said the contents of the specimens belonged to the deceased and they had a strong odour.

“I received the specimens from Dr P Sharmilah of the Chemistry Department after they had been analysed,” he said during examinationinchief by leading deputy public prosecutor Raja Zaizul Faridah Raja Zaharuddin on the 13th day of the trial of Indonesian Siti Aisyah, 25, and Vietnames Doan Thi Huong, 28, who are charged along with four others who are still at large with the murder of the 45-year- old Kim Chol.

During the proceedings, 117 items were identified as exhibits including the personal effects of both accused by investigating officers.

The witness said he also received the belongings of Siti Aisyah namely passport, clothes, shoes, bags, a mobile phone and personal effects as well as three US$ 100 notes ( equivalent to RM1,268.10) while Doan had a pair of white shoes, two mobile phones and a bag.

“While the items taken from the deceased were two mobile phones and a laptop. I received the articles from Sergeant Shamsul of the klia2 police station,” he said.

When cross- examined by counsel Gooi, Wan Azirul Nizam said closed circuit television ( CCTV) recording showed Siti Aisyah did not change her appearance after the attack.

Wan Azirul Nizam also agreed with Gooi’s suggestion that the four suspects who were still at large changed their clothes after the attack on Kim Chol but he did not agree that they disposed off their personal items.

“What is certain is that the four suspects changed their clothes,” he said, added that there was no change to Siti Aisyah’s apperance before and after the attack incident.

The hearing before Justice Datuk Azmi Ariffin continues today. — Bernama