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North Korea: women accused of killing Kim Jong-nam revisit scene of crime Chaotic scenes at re-enactment of Kim Jong-nam killing
(about 3 hours later)
The two women accused of killing the North Korean leader’s half brother have toured the Malaysian airport where the crime took place. Two women accused of killing the North Korean leader’s half-brother made a chaotic three-hour tour of the Malaysian airport where the alleged crime took place.
The judge, prosecutors, defence lawyers and representatives from the women’s home countries were escorted inside the Kuala Lumpur airport by heavily armed police on a visit meant to give the trial participants a better perspective of events as they unfolded. Handcuffed and wearing bullet-proof vests, Indonesian Siti Aisyah, 25, and Doan Thi Huong, 28, of Vietnam, walked around the crime scene on Tuesday, surrounded by dozens of balaclava-clad police who attempted to hold back journalists.
Indonesian Siti Aisyah and Doan Thi Huong of Vietnam appeared subdued as the group moved around. The women, who have pleaded not guilty, were handcuffed and wearing bulletproof vests as they have often since their arrests. Halfway through the visit, Doan appeared unwell while Siti Aisyah burst into tears, after which the pair were put in wheelchairs. Defence lawyers later said both suspects were worn out from being weighed down by their vests.
High court judge Azmi Ariffin visited the check-in kiosk in the budget terminal where the two women allegedly smeared VX nerve agent onto Kim Jong-nam’s face on 13 February. The judge followed the path Kim walked to the airport clinic, seeking help after being attacked, and retraced the movement of the two women, who were seen on security footage rushing to restrooms afterward to wash their hands. “They had to wear bulletproof vests, it is heavy, we walked for three hours. Siti Aisyah and Doan were exhausted,” said Gooi Soon Seng, Aisyah’s lawyer.
Huong and Aisyah are the only two suspects detained in the brazen assassination of Kim, an outcast from North Korea’s ruling family who lived abroad in virtual exile for years. Their defence lawyers have said the women were duped by suspected North Korean agents into believing they were playing a harmless prank for a TV show. The visit to the budget airport terminal was organised to give those involved in the case – including the judge, prosecutors and defence lawyers – a better understanding of events on 13 February.
Malaysia has never directly accused North Korea, but South Korea’s spy agency has said the attack was part of a five-year plot by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to kill a brother he reportedly never met. Kim Jong-nam was not thought to be seeking influence over his younger brother but had spoken out publicly against his family’s dynastic rule. “The CCTV footage was taken from various cameras and various places, so from there we couldn’t get a complete picture on how [the incident] took place,” Gooi told a news conference after the visit.
Since the trial opened on 2 October, witnesses have testified that Kim died from acute VX poisoning and that the banned chemical agent was found on his face and clothing and on the women’s clothing and on Huong’s fingernail clippings. But the tour quickly descended into disorder as photographers rushed to get images of the women, who have both pleaded not guilty. The busy terminal remained open, and passengers looked on in confusion at the procession of more than 200 police officers, many heavily armed.
Kim Jong-nam died from a seizure while being taken to hospital after complaining that a woman had sprayed chemicals on him. Leaked CCTV footage later showed what prosecutors allege was the two women smearing VX nerve agent on his face.
The women say they were duped into believing they were playing a harmless prank for a hidden-camera show.
Tuesday’s site visit included a restaurant where Aisyah was seen meeting an unidentified man, the toilets where police witnesses said both women had gone to after the attack, the clinic where the victim sought medical aid and the taxi stands where both suspects were seen after the attack.
Doan and Aisyah are the only two suspects detained in the brazen assassination of Kim, an outcast from North Korea’s ruling family who lived abroad in virtual exile for years.
Police have charged four other suspects, although their nationalities and full names have not been released.
South Korea’s spy agency said the killing was part of a five-year plot by North Korea’s ruler, Kim Jong-un, to assassinate a brother he may have never met.
People who knew him said Kim Jong-nam, who had spoken out against dynastic rule, spent his last few years highly paranoid and hidden from the regime. However, at the time of his death, Kim was travelling on a North Korean diplomatic passport under the name Kim Chol.
Pyongyang has denied any role in the killing and has not even acknowledged the dead man was Kim Jong-nam. Both suspects face the death penalty if convicted.
Since the trial opened on 2 October, witnesses have testified that Kim died from acute VX poisoning and that the banned chemical agent was found on his face and clothing, as well as the women’s clothing and Doan’s fingernail clippings.