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| Kim Jong-nam murder trial: prosecutors reject request to free Doan Thi Huong | Kim Jong-nam murder trial: prosecutors reject request to free Doan Thi Huong |
| (4 months later) | |
| A Vietnamese woman will continue her trial for the murder of Kim Jong-nam, the half-brother of North Korea’s leader, after Malaysian prosecutors rejected a request from Vietnam to free her on Thursday. | A Vietnamese woman will continue her trial for the murder of Kim Jong-nam, the half-brother of North Korea’s leader, after Malaysian prosecutors rejected a request from Vietnam to free her on Thursday. |
| The Vietnamese government had made the appeal after Doan Thi Huong’s co-accused, Indonesian woman Siti Aisyah, was released on Monday in a shock decision. | The Vietnamese government had made the appeal after Doan Thi Huong’s co-accused, Indonesian woman Siti Aisyah, was released on Monday in a shock decision. |
| On Thursday, the same court ruled that Doan’s trial could proceed, but would be postponed until 1 April after she was declared “mentally and physically” unfit to testify. | On Thursday, the same court ruled that Doan’s trial could proceed, but would be postponed until 1 April after she was declared “mentally and physically” unfit to testify. |
| Counsel for Doan Thi-Huong, Hisham Teh Poh Teik, told the court that she had not slept for the past three nights following the decision by the Malaysian attorney general to drop the charges against Siti. | Counsel for Doan Thi-Huong, Hisham Teh Poh Teik, told the court that she had not slept for the past three nights following the decision by the Malaysian attorney general to drop the charges against Siti. |
| Kim Jong-nam death: suspect Siti Aisyah released after charge dropped | Kim Jong-nam death: suspect Siti Aisyah released after charge dropped |
| Both women were facing murder charges over the death of Kim Jong-nam. Kim died in 2017 after a toxic nerve agent was smeared on his face at Kuala Lumpur Airport. The women claimed they had no idea they had been groomed by North Korean agents to carry out the murder and thought they were taking part in a prank TV show. | Both women were facing murder charges over the death of Kim Jong-nam. Kim died in 2017 after a toxic nerve agent was smeared on his face at Kuala Lumpur Airport. The women claimed they had no idea they had been groomed by North Korean agents to carry out the murder and thought they were taking part in a prank TV show. |
| The eldest son of Kim Jong-il when his father takes control of North Korea in 1994, Kim Jong-nam is assumed to be the designated successor. | The eldest son of Kim Jong-il when his father takes control of North Korea in 1994, Kim Jong-nam is assumed to be the designated successor. |
| Kim Jong-nam is deported from Japan after trying to enter the country on a fake passport. He is subsequently removed from the succession in favour of his younger half-brother Kim Jong-il. He goes into exile, occasionally criticising the North Korean regime. | Kim Jong-nam is deported from Japan after trying to enter the country on a fake passport. He is subsequently removed from the succession in favour of his younger half-brother Kim Jong-il. He goes into exile, occasionally criticising the North Korean regime. |
| Kim Jong-nam dies on his way to hospital after seeking help at an information desk in Kuala Lumpur airport because he felt dizzy. CCTV footage emerges which appears to show him being attacked as a woman approaches him and places something over his face from behind. | Kim Jong-nam dies on his way to hospital after seeking help at an information desk in Kuala Lumpur airport because he felt dizzy. CCTV footage emerges which appears to show him being attacked as a woman approaches him and places something over his face from behind. |
| A 28-year-old woman, Doan Thi Huong, who holds a Vietnamese passport, is arrested by authorities in connection with the death. Images from the airport show that she had been wearing a white jumper with 'LOL' emblazoned upon it at the time of Kim's death. An Indonesian, Siti Aisyah, 25, is arrested the following day. | A 28-year-old woman, Doan Thi Huong, who holds a Vietnamese passport, is arrested by authorities in connection with the death. Images from the airport show that she had been wearing a white jumper with 'LOL' emblazoned upon it at the time of Kim's death. An Indonesian, Siti Aisyah, 25, is arrested the following day. |
| After Siti Aisyah's boyfriend, Muhammad Farid bin Jalaluddin, is also arrested, Ri Jong-chol becomes the fourth person to be picked up by investigators, and the only suspect from North Korea. | After Siti Aisyah's boyfriend, Muhammad Farid bin Jalaluddin, is also arrested, Ri Jong-chol becomes the fourth person to be picked up by investigators, and the only suspect from North Korea. |
| North Korea demands that Malaysia stop investigating the death, with the state news agency insisting Kim died of a heart attack, not poisoning, and blaming South Korea for a ‘conspiratorial racket’. | North Korea demands that Malaysia stop investigating the death, with the state news agency insisting Kim died of a heart attack, not poisoning, and blaming South Korea for a ‘conspiratorial racket’. |
| Malaysian police announce that Kim was killed with the banned VX nerve agent, classified by the UN as a weapon of mass destruction. Malaysia’s health minister later says the dose was so high it killed him 'within 15 to 20 minutes'. | Malaysian police announce that Kim was killed with the banned VX nerve agent, classified by the UN as a weapon of mass destruction. Malaysia’s health minister later says the dose was so high it killed him 'within 15 to 20 minutes'. |
| Siti Aisyah says she was paid $90 to take part in what she believed was a prank. | Siti Aisyah says she was paid $90 to take part in what she believed was a prank. |
| The diplomatic row over the death escalates to tit-for-tat travel bans being enforced between Malaysia and North Korea. Previously Malaysia had been one of very few countries to allow easy travel to North Korea. | The diplomatic row over the death escalates to tit-for-tat travel bans being enforced between Malaysia and North Korea. Previously Malaysia had been one of very few countries to allow easy travel to North Korea. |
| Kim Jong-nam's body is repatriated. The same plane carries three North Korean men initially named by Malaysian police as suspects in his murder. | Kim Jong-nam's body is repatriated. The same plane carries three North Korean men initially named by Malaysian police as suspects in his murder. |
| Siti Aisyah and Doan Thi Huong plead not guilty at the start of their trial. Three days later the court hears how traces of the banned VX nerve agent were found on both women. | Siti Aisyah and Doan Thi Huong plead not guilty at the start of their trial. Three days later the court hears how traces of the banned VX nerve agent were found on both women. |
| There are chaotic scenes at Kuala Lumpur airport as suspects Siti Aisyah and Doan Thi Huong, handcuffed and wearing bulletproof vests, are walked around the alleged crime scene in a re-enactment. Halfway through the visit, the distressed women cannot continue on their own, and are then pushed around in wheelchairs. | There are chaotic scenes at Kuala Lumpur airport as suspects Siti Aisyah and Doan Thi Huong, handcuffed and wearing bulletproof vests, are walked around the alleged crime scene in a re-enactment. Halfway through the visit, the distressed women cannot continue on their own, and are then pushed around in wheelchairs. |
| The court is told that Kim Jong-nam was carrying an antidote to the nerve agent that killed him in his bag at the time of his death. Before his death he was said to be paranoid that the North Korean regime would strike against him. | The court is told that Kim Jong-nam was carrying an antidote to the nerve agent that killed him in his bag at the time of his death. Before his death he was said to be paranoid that the North Korean regime would strike against him. |
| As the women's trial continues, the Malaysian prosecution argues that the pair must have been trained as assassins, alleging that footage showing them heading to the bathrooms shortly after the attack indicates that they knew they had to remove the lethal nerve agent from their skin. | As the women's trial continues, the Malaysian prosecution argues that the pair must have been trained as assassins, alleging that footage showing them heading to the bathrooms shortly after the attack indicates that they knew they had to remove the lethal nerve agent from their skin. |
| Two years after her initial arrest, and 17 months after her trial began, charges are unexpectedly dropped against Siti Aisyah, and she is released. | |
| After accepting a lesser charge of 'causing hurt by a dangerous weapon', she is sentenced to three years and four months in prison, and was released on 3 May 2019. | |
| However, Doan’s counsel Hisham confirmed that Malaysian prosecutors rejected a request to drop the charges against Doan, meaning she alone will face trial for the murder. It was decision which Hisham described as “discrimination” and evidence that the attorney general Tommy Thomas had “favoured” one defendant over another. | However, Doan’s counsel Hisham confirmed that Malaysian prosecutors rejected a request to drop the charges against Doan, meaning she alone will face trial for the murder. It was decision which Hisham described as “discrimination” and evidence that the attorney general Tommy Thomas had “favoured” one defendant over another. |
| “It is our complaint that the public prosecutor has not acted fairly or justly,” he said. “Our constitution has been violated.” | “It is our complaint that the public prosecutor has not acted fairly or justly,” he said. “Our constitution has been violated.” |
| It is thought that diplomatic pressure from Indonesia, in particular President Joko Widodo who is facing an election next month, contributed to the Malaysian government’s decision to drop the charges against Siti. Thomas cited the “good relations” between Indonesia and Malaysia as one of the reasons for approving her acquittal. | It is thought that diplomatic pressure from Indonesia, in particular President Joko Widodo who is facing an election next month, contributed to the Malaysian government’s decision to drop the charges against Siti. Thomas cited the “good relations” between Indonesia and Malaysia as one of the reasons for approving her acquittal. |
| Vietnamese diplomatic efforts have proved less effective on the part of Doan, though Hisham confirmed that the embassy of Vietnam in Malaysia, as well as the Vietnamese minister of justice and minister of foreign affairs were “communication with the Malaysian government to secure the release of Doan Thi Huong.” | Vietnamese diplomatic efforts have proved less effective on the part of Doan, though Hisham confirmed that the embassy of Vietnam in Malaysia, as well as the Vietnamese minister of justice and minister of foreign affairs were “communication with the Malaysian government to secure the release of Doan Thi Huong.” |
| 'Mum, I was tricked': my daughter, the Kim Jong-nam murder suspect | 'Mum, I was tricked': my daughter, the Kim Jong-nam murder suspect |
| Speaking outside court, Doan’s counsel they would be making a second representation to Thomas to drop the charges, saying he had a “moral obligation” come to court to explain why they chose to continue prosecution of Doan but not Siti. | Speaking outside court, Doan’s counsel they would be making a second representation to Thomas to drop the charges, saying he had a “moral obligation” come to court to explain why they chose to continue prosecution of Doan but not Siti. |
| Born 10 May 1971, Kim Jong-nam was the eldest son of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il. | Born 10 May 1971, Kim Jong-nam was the eldest son of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il. |
| Kim Jong-il ruled the country from 1994 to 2011, and during much of that period, Kim Jong-nam had been considered his father’s designated successor. | Kim Jong-il ruled the country from 1994 to 2011, and during much of that period, Kim Jong-nam had been considered his father’s designated successor. |
| However that changed with an incident in 2001, when he was deported from Japan after trying to enter the country on a fake passport. He claimed at the time that he wanted to visit Disneyland. The publicity surrounding the event reportedly infuriated his father, and Kim Jong-nam was pushed aside in favour of his younger half-brother, current North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. | However that changed with an incident in 2001, when he was deported from Japan after trying to enter the country on a fake passport. He claimed at the time that he wanted to visit Disneyland. The publicity surrounding the event reportedly infuriated his father, and Kim Jong-nam was pushed aside in favour of his younger half-brother, current North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. |
| He is thought to have then lived in exile for years, and unlike other relatives in the Kim dynasty, did not hold an official title or play any part in governing North Korea. He chose a largely private life, but his few public comments included blunt criticism of the North Korea. Just weeks into his younger half-brother’s rule, he reportedly described the regime as “a joke to the outside world”, and said he opposed the hereditary transfer of power in the country. | He is thought to have then lived in exile for years, and unlike other relatives in the Kim dynasty, did not hold an official title or play any part in governing North Korea. He chose a largely private life, but his few public comments included blunt criticism of the North Korea. Just weeks into his younger half-brother’s rule, he reportedly described the regime as “a joke to the outside world”, and said he opposed the hereditary transfer of power in the country. |
| Kim Jong-nam died on 13 February 2017, after being attacked with VX nerve agent while he was travelling under a false name from Malaysia’s Kuala Lumpur International Airport to Macau. | Kim Jong-nam died on 13 February 2017, after being attacked with VX nerve agent while he was travelling under a false name from Malaysia’s Kuala Lumpur International Airport to Macau. |
| Justin McCurry and Emma Graham-Harrison | Justin McCurry and Emma Graham-Harrison |
| Sitting in court, Doan looked pale and drawn and her lawyer’s request that the trial be postponed due to Doan’s ill health was reluctantly accepted by the judge. | Sitting in court, Doan looked pale and drawn and her lawyer’s request that the trial be postponed due to Doan’s ill health was reluctantly accepted by the judge. |
| “I wish I could just carry on but the accused is clearly not mentally or physically fit to testify,” the judge told the court. | “I wish I could just carry on but the accused is clearly not mentally or physically fit to testify,” the judge told the court. |
| Doan broke down sobbing as she was handcuffed to be taken back to jail. Speaking to Vietnam embassy officials she shook violently, and pleaded with them. | Doan broke down sobbing as she was handcuffed to be taken back to jail. Speaking to Vietnam embassy officials she shook violently, and pleaded with them. |
| “I am not angry at Siti,” Doan told reporters in court through tears, adding that she was “traumatised”. | “I am not angry at Siti,” Doan told reporters in court through tears, adding that she was “traumatised”. |
| “God knows that Siti and I did nothing wrong,” she said. “Please call my father, call my family, and ask for them to pray for me.” | “God knows that Siti and I did nothing wrong,” she said. “Please call my father, call my family, and ask for them to pray for me.” |
| North Korea | North Korea |
| Vietnam | Vietnam |
| Malaysia | Malaysia |
| Kim Jong-un | Kim Jong-un |
| Asia Pacific | Asia Pacific |
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