Jong-Nam's body released to family

KUALA LUMPUR: The remains of Kim Jong-Nam (pix), the half-brother of North Korean dictator Kim Jong-Un, was released today by the Kuala Lumpur Hospital (HKL) for repatriation to his family — 41 days after he was murdered with a nerve agent at klia2 on Feb 13.
At noon today, a Toyota Vellfire hearse escorted by police was spotted entering HKL mortuary before leaving the place with the body about two hours later.
It is learnt that the body was taken to an unknown location which is believed to be a funeral parlour before being prepared for repatriation.
Police personnel closely guarding the HKL mortuary round-the-clock to keep hordes of newsmen at bay since Feb 14 were pulled out of the place today after the release of the body.
The gates to the mortuary were also reopened.
It is believed that the arrangements were made by Wisma Putra which is liaising with Jong-Nam's family to receive the 45-year-old victim's body in Macau before tomorrow.
Earlier in the morning, several police officers including the investigations officer of Jong Nam's murder had gone to the North Korean embassy where they spent about three hours, purportedly to brief embassy officials ahead of the imminent release of Jong Nam's body.
Police were tight-lipped about the latest developments on the case when contacted today.
Two weeks ago, Jong-Nam's body was taken out of the HKL and underwent embalming at a funeral parlour in the city before being returned a day later.