Thorough probe into suspects not done, court told

SHAH ALAM: Investigating officer ASP Wan Azirul Nizam Che Wan Aziz admitted to the High Court today that the police had failed to conduct thorough investigations into the four North Korean suspects in connection with the murder of North Korean Kim Jong-Nam.
Cross-examined by defence counsel Gooi Soon Seng on the nature of police investigations into the wanted suspects namely Ri Ji Hyon, Hong Song Hac, O Jong Gil, and Ri Jae Nam, Wan Azirul Nizam denied investigations into the case were biased.
While he admitted of knowing that Hong, also known as Chang, had obtained a stay and entry permit from Indonesia's Home Affairs Ministry, he denied any knowledge that Hong was a North Korean representative in Indonesia between 2016 to last year.
Wan Azirul Nizam also denied any knowledge on whether Hong had possessed a diplomatic passport or visa.
During proceedings, Wan Azirul Nizam was neither able to identify Jong Nam's alleged mistress when Gooi showed a picture of North Korean woman So Yong Ra for identification nor confirm police investigations into the matter.
It was reported that So, a former air stewardess with North Korean airliner Air Koryo was wanted by the police for questioning in the aftermath of the murder.
The trial will resume on March 14.
Indonesian Siti Aisyah, 26 and Vietnamese Doan Thi Huong, 29, along with four others still at large, were charged with the murder of Kim Chol, 45, at the KL International Airport 2 (klia2) departure hall at 9am on Feb 13 last year.
Wan Azirul, however, confirmed that Jong Nam's friend Tomie Yoshio had assigned his personal driver known as Ahmad Fuad to act as the chauffeur for the North Korean when he arrived at the airport and drive him to either his accommodation or places of choice.
He also confirmed that Tomie had attested to Jong Nam having said that "My life is in danger." and "I am scared of my life and I want a driver.", six months before the murder after questioning him.
The trial is expected to resume on March 14.
Indonesian Siti Aisyah, 26 and Vietnamese Doan Thi Huong, 29, along with four others still at large, were charged with the murder of Kim Chol, 45, at the KL International Airport 2 (klia2) departure hall at 9am on Feb 13 last year.
Jong-Nam, who travelled with a passport bearing the name of Kim Chol, died while on the way to the Putrajaya Hospital. He arrived in the country on Feb 6.
It was reported that Jong-Nam was at klia2 on Feb 13 to board a flight to Macau when two women approached and suddenly wiped his face with a toxic liquid which was later identified as the VX nerve agent.
The murder charge under Section 302 of the Penal Code carries the mandatory death sentence upon conviction. ends