Two women face possibility of death penalty in Malaysia over killing of Kim Jong-nam

Posted on : 2017-03-02 16:18 KST Modified on : 2019-10-19 20:29 KST
One North Korean suspect also to be indicted on murder charges; four other suspects still unaccounted for
Indonesian national Siti Aisya leaves court in Malaysia on Mar. 1 after being indicted on murder charges in the killing of Kim Jong-nam. (AP/Yonhap News)
Indonesian national Siti Aisya leaves court in Malaysia on Mar. 1 after being indicted on murder charges in the killing of Kim Jong-nam. (AP/Yonhap News)

Malaysian police indicted Indonesian national Siti Aisyah, 25, and Vietnamese national Doan Thi Huong, 29, on murder charges on Mar. 1 following their arrest in connection with the killing of Kim Jong-nam.

In their indictment, prosecutors said Aisyah and Doan, along with four other suspects who are currently on the lam, were suspected of killing a North Korean identified as “Kim Chol” at Terminal 2 of the Kuala Lumpur International Airport at 9 am on Feb. 13. “Kim Chol” is the name listed in the passport for Kim Jong-nam, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s half-brother.

While Doan and Aisyah have continued to proclaim their innocence, police explained that the two suspects committed their act with intent to murder.

“If found guilty, they will face the death penalty,” prosecutors said in connection with their sentencing. The Malaysian criminal code stipulates that the death penalty is mandatory punishment for murder convictions.

Vietnamese national Doan Thi Huong leaves court in Malaysia on Mar. 1 after being indicted on murder charges in the killing of Kim Jong-nam. (AP/Yonhap News)
Vietnamese national Doan Thi Huong leaves court in Malaysia on Mar. 1 after being indicted on murder charges in the killing of Kim Jong-nam. (AP/Yonhap News)

Two other individuals implicated by police in the case - Hyon Kwang-song, a 44-year-old second secretary at the North Korean embassy in Malaysia, and Kim Wook-il, a 37-year-old Air Koryo employee - are believed to be hiding at the North Korean embassy in Kuala Lumpur. Police also plan to indict suspect Ri Jong-chol this week on homicide charges.

A senior delegation including former North Korean deputy UN ambassador Ri Tong-il arrived in Malaysia on Feb. 28 to demand that the Malaysian government turn over Kim Jong-nam’s remains and release Ri Jong-chol, but the response from the Malaysian government has been chilly. Responding to questions from reporters on Feb. 28, Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was quoted by local news outlet The Star as saying the government “can only look at [North Korea’s] demands if all [investigation] procedures are completed conclusively” - a message that may be a sign of displeasure with Pyongyang’s consistent refusal to cooperate with the probe.

The Malaysian government is also unlikely to meet Pyongyang‘s demands in light of its own political situation, which an early general election approaching this year. Many Malaysians are seething over reports that Kim Jong-nam was slain in a busy airport with the nerve agent VX, which has been used as a chemical weapon, and are demanding stern handling of Pyongyang in response.

By Hwang Keum-bi, staff reporter

Please direct questions or comments to [english@hani.co.kr]

 

button that move to original korean article (클릭시 원문으로 이동하는 버튼)

Related stories

Most viewed articles