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Indonesian suspect in death of Kim Jong-nam 'was paid $90 to carry out attack' | Indonesian suspect in death of Kim Jong-nam 'was paid $90 to carry out attack' |
(about 1 hour later) | |
One of the women accused of assassinating North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un’s half brother was paid just $90 (£72) to carry out the attack, an Indonesian diplomat has said. | One of the women accused of assassinating North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un’s half brother was paid just $90 (£72) to carry out the attack, an Indonesian diplomat has said. |
Siti Aisyah, an Indonesian national, is one of three people being held by police on suspicion of murdering Kim Jong-nam with deadly nerve agent VX at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Malaysia earlier this month. | |
Aisyah, 25, claimed she was duped into the plot after being told she was taking part in a Japanese TV prank show where they would spray water in men’s faces – a claim echoed by Indonesia’s deputy ambassador to Malaysia, Andriano Erwin, who has visited her in custody. | Aisyah, 25, claimed she was duped into the plot after being told she was taking part in a Japanese TV prank show where they would spray water in men’s faces – a claim echoed by Indonesia’s deputy ambassador to Malaysia, Andriano Erwin, who has visited her in custody. |
The Vietnamese foreign ministry confirmed that one of the other suspects, Doan Thi Huong, a Vietnamese citizen, also thought she was taking part in a prank. | The Vietnamese foreign ministry confirmed that one of the other suspects, Doan Thi Huong, a Vietnamese citizen, also thought she was taking part in a prank. |
Another suspect, a man, was also arrested. | Another suspect, a man, was also arrested. |
A coroner’s report released by Malaysian authorities this week showed Kim Jong-nam, who had been living in partial exile for over a decade, had been killed by two women who approached him with the poison on their hands which they then wiped on his face one after the other. | |
VX, which was listed under the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), is the combination of two chemicals mixed together at the last moment to create a reaction. | VX, which was listed under the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), is the combination of two chemicals mixed together at the last moment to create a reaction. |
It is odorless, colourless and kills its victims by blocking the enzyme which allows muscles to relax – causing them to clench and spasm uncontrollably even meaning the victim cannot breathe. | It is odorless, colourless and kills its victims by blocking the enzyme which allows muscles to relax – causing them to clench and spasm uncontrollably even meaning the victim cannot breathe. |
Just 10 milligrams of VX can be enough to kill an adult if there is skin contact. | |
It was discovered in the 1950s by US scientists researching pesticides but the majority of the world’s supply has been destroyed since the signing of the CWC. | It was discovered in the 1950s by US scientists researching pesticides but the majority of the world’s supply has been destroyed since the signing of the CWC. |
North Korea is not party to the agreement and is believed by South Korean intelligence to have a stockpile between 2,500 to 5,000 tonnes of the chemical weapons, The New York Times reported. | North Korea is not party to the agreement and is believed by South Korean intelligence to have a stockpile between 2,500 to 5,000 tonnes of the chemical weapons, The New York Times reported. |
It comes as Malaysia said it would issue an arrest warrant for a North Korean ambassador wanted in connection with the murder. | It comes as Malaysia said it would issue an arrest warrant for a North Korean ambassador wanted in connection with the murder. |
Malaysia said earlier in the week it that Hyon Kwang Song, a second secretary at the North Korean Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, was wanted for questioning but they said they could not compel him to appear because he had diplomatic immunity. | Malaysia said earlier in the week it that Hyon Kwang Song, a second secretary at the North Korean Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, was wanted for questioning but they said they could not compel him to appear because he had diplomatic immunity. |
They have now changed their minds after a week of silence. | They have now changed their minds after a week of silence. |
Abdul Samah Mat, the police chief leading the investigation, said authorities would give the diplomat “reasonable” time to come forward. | |
If he doesn't, police will issue a notice compelling him to do so, though diplomats have immunity privileges even in criminal cases. | If he doesn't, police will issue a notice compelling him to do so, though diplomats have immunity privileges even in criminal cases. |
North Korea has denied that it had anything to do with Kim Jong-nam’s death, saying he “suddenly fell into a state of shock” and died after suffering a “heart stroke”. | North Korea has denied that it had anything to do with Kim Jong-nam’s death, saying he “suddenly fell into a state of shock” and died after suffering a “heart stroke”. |
They accused investigators of “recklessly” making their claims an established fact. | They accused investigators of “recklessly” making their claims an established fact. |
It also called for Aisyah and Doan to be released, as they were “innocent”, and the return of Kim Jong-nam’s body to North Korea. | It also called for Aisyah and Doan to be released, as they were “innocent”, and the return of Kim Jong-nam’s body to North Korea. |
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