Kim Jong-Nam case: Three in custody likely to be charged for murder on Wednesday

PETALING JAYA: A North Korean chemist and two foreign women held over the death of Kim Jong-Nam, the estranged half-brother of North Korean dictator Kim Jong-Un, are expected to face murder charges Wednesday.
The remand order on the two women, Indonesian Siti Aisyah, 25, a spa masseur, and Vietnamese Doan Thi Huong, 29, an entertainment outlet worker, who were detained within two days after the victim's death expires on Wednesday while that on the chemist, 47-year-old Ri Jong-chol, ends on Friday.
Sources familiar with the ongoing probe said – as the results of the post mortem have been obtained by investigators indicating a nerve agent called VX was used in killing the victim whose travel documents identified him as Kim-chol – it was highly likely for the Attorney-General's Chambers will give police the go-ahead to charge the suspects with murder.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar who was asked today if the suspects will be charged with murder said: "Let's see tomorrow."
He declined further comment.
It is learnt that doctors had also visited the three suspects today at the Cyberjaya police station lock-up and examined them for contamination of the said nerve agent and general health.
The outcome of the medical examination is unknown.
There were were also no fresh arrests made by police since Jong-chol was held on Feb 18 but the search for three other wanted North Koreans including the North Korean embassy's second secretary Hyong Kwang Song, 44 continues.
The other two men were identified as Kim Uk-il, 37, a staff of Air Koryo, the national carrier airline of North Korea and Ri Ji U@James, 30.
All three men are believed to still be in Malaysia.
The search for the four escaped North Koreans identified as Rhi Ji Hyon, 33, Hong Song Hac, 34, O Jong Gil, 55, and Ri Jae Nam, 57 who fled Malaysia soon after the victim's death on Feb 13 is also being carried out with the assistance of Interpol.