The Malaysian Insight

SITI Aisyah and Doan Thi Huong, the two women on trial for the murder of North Korean Kim Jong-nam, have arrived at the Shah Alam High Court for the decision on whether they will be acquitted or called to enter their defence. 

The women, both in their 20s, were arrested in March last year and charged in October. They are accused of murdering Kim, the estranged relative of the North’s leader Kim Jong-un, by smearing his face with VX – a lethal nerve agent banned by the United Nations. 

Kim was attacked in Malaysia’s crowded klia2 airport and died on the way to hospital.

If convicted, the women could face the death penalty. Both have pleaded not guilty, saying they thought they were taking part in a reality TV prank show. 

Siti, an Indonesian, and Doan, a Vietnamese, are the only two suspects in custody. The other four suspects – all North Korean men – fled the country soon after the incident. They are believed to be hiding in North Korea. 

The prosecution made closing arguments in June, based on the testimony of 34 witnesses. Expert witnesses told the court that VX traces were found on both women’s clothes. 

Closed-circuit television footage viewed in court also showed both women meeting the four North Korean men at klia2 on the way of the attack. The videos also show Doan appearing to smear something on Kim’s face. – August 16, 2018.