Tag: Kim Jong-nam

Two women accused of killing Kim Jong-nam, the estranged half-brother of North Korea’s leader, have been charged with his murder.

The women, Doan Thi Huong from Vietnam and Siti Aisyah from Indonesia, allegedly smeared deadly VX nerve agent on Mr. Kim’s face in Kuala Lumpur airport on February 13, the BBC reports.

They appeared in court near Malaysia’s capital, protected by Special Forces.

They could face the death penalty if convicted of murder.

No plea was recorded in the magistrates’ court as only higher courts have jurisdiction over murder cases.

But after the charge was read out, Doan Thi Huong said “I understand but I am not guilty,” in English.

It is widely believed that North Korea was responsible for the attack, which it fiercely denies.

Kim Jong-nam, was openly critical of the North Korean regime.

They will appear again on April 13, when prosecutors will apply for them to be tried jointly in a higher court. The charges were read first against Ms Aisyah, then against Ms Huong, both of whom were in handcuffs.

Siti Aisyah’s lawyer Gooi Soon Seng asked the court to issue an order banning the police and potential witnesses from making statements that might endanger his client’s right to a fair trial.

Both women have previously said they were paid to take part in what they thought was a TV prank.

Malaysia’s chief prosecutor earlier said no decision had yet been taken on whether to charge a North Korean man, Ri Jong Chol, who is also being held over the killing.

Malaysian police on Wednesday named a senior North Korean embassy official among those slated for questioning in connection with the killing of Kim Jong-nam.

Hyon Kwang Song is one of three more North Koreans being sought. One of the others is a state airline employee.

Police also confirmed Mr. Kim, half-brother of North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, died after two women wiped a toxin on him at Kuala Lumpur airport.

North Korea’s embassy in Malaysia angrily denied the claims, the BBC reports.

In a statement, it said the fact that the substance was on the hands of the women proved it could not have been a poison and called for the immediate release of the “innocent females” and a North Korean man.

A North Korean national has been arrested over the killing of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s half-brother.

The first North Korean to be arrested over Kim Jong-nam’s death was named as Ri Jong Chol, 46, the BBC reports.

An Indonesian woman, a Malaysian man and a woman with a Vietnamese passport were detained earlier.

Police believe poison was sprayed into Mr. Kim’s face as he waited to board a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Macau.

Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, formally confirmed on Thursday that the dead man, who was travelling under the name Kim Chol, was Kim Jong-nam.

Police said the latest suspect was detained on Friday evening in Selangor, near the Malaysian capital. No further details were given.

One of the detained women, an Indonesian national named as Siti Aisyah, is said to have told Malaysian police she had been paid to perform what she thought was a prank.

A Malaysian man thought to be her boyfriend was detained along with her.

The woman carrying a Vietnamese passport has been identified as Doan Thi Huong.

Kim is believed to have been attacked in the airport departure hall on Monday by two women, using some form of chemical.

Two more suspects have been arrested in connection with the death of Kim Jong-nam, the brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, in Malaysia.

A female Indonesian suspect and a Malaysian man thought to be her boyfriend were both detained on Thursday, the BBC reports.

A woman travelling on a Vietnamese passport has also been detained.

Kim died on Monday after apparently being poisoned while waiting to board a flight in Kuala Lumpur.

Police said they have now finished their post-mortem examination, though the results have not yet been made public.

The two female suspects have been remanded in custody for seven days.

The inspector general of the Royal Malaysia police, Sri Khalid Bin Abu Bakar, said the second woman was detained on Thursday over the death of “a Korean male.”

She was identified from airport CCTV footage and had an Indonesian passport.

Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, formally confirmed on Thursday that the dead man, who was travelling under the name Kim Chol, was Kim Jong-nam, according to state news agency Bernama.

There is widespread speculation that North Korea was behind the killing, but there has been no proof.

North Korea is on Thursday celebrating what would have been the 75th birthday of Kim Jong-il, the late leader and father of both Kim Jong-nam and Kim Jong-un.