[88][100] A lawyer for Hương requested a second autopsy as he doubted Malaysian expertise, calling for experts from Japan and Iraq as well pathologists from North Korea itself to be involved. [116], A Malaysian government chemist, Dr. Raja Subramaniam, who has a PhD in chemical weapons analysis from the Swedish Defence Research Agency (FOI), testified before the court that traces of the VX nerve agent thought to have been used in the assassination were found on the two women. Two women, one Vietnamese, the other Indonesian, were charged with murder. A book by Anna Fifield, The Washington Post bureau chief in Beijing, had earlier reported this, stating he had been previously filmed abroad with a US intelligence agent, and had carried a backpack that contained $120,000 in cash. Hương would never know why she was treated differently from Siti Aisyah. [96] Khalid also alleged that the women apparently knew they were handling poisonous substances. Following Kim Jong-nam’s assassination two women, one from Indonesia and the other Vietnam, were arrested. We will use your email address only for sending you newsletters. [37], In March 2018, the United States Department of State imposed additional sanctions on North Korea, having asserted that North Korea used VX nerve agent to assassinate Kim Jong-nam. Reports surfaced that Kim Jong Nam fell from favor from the ruling family after he was caught trying to sneak a visit to Tokyo Disneyland using a forged document in 2001 -- an assertion that one journalist who spoke to Kim countered. [119], Another chemical pathologist, Nur Ashikin Othman, told the court that tests on Kim's blood showed a very low level of 344 units per litre of cholinesterase enzyme and said it could be caused by poison such as pesticide or nerve agent, whilst blood tests on both defendants found only normal enzyme levels, although this does not conclusively show they were not exposed to VX as the women may have been in contact with the nerve agent at a low concentration or may have decontaminated themselves by washing their hands with soap or taken an antidote. Ramkarpal felt that Thomas's refusal to withdraw the murder charge against the second suspect was "mind boggling and raises questions about the powers of attorney general in the country". Kim's whereabouts and the status of his health remain a mystery as he has not been seen in state media reports since April 11, the day before he reportedly had the operation. Alternatively transliterated as Nur Asyikin Osman. The two women claimed they thought they were taking part in a TV prank. Kim Jong-nam was the eldest son of deceased North Korean leader Kim Jong-il and the half-brother of Kim Jong-un, who is currently the leader of North Korea. [64][65] On 22 February, Malaysian police said there was evidence of an attempted break-in at the mortuary where Kim's body was being held. Huong pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of causing injuring last month after prosecutors dropped the murder charge against her. It may involve the CIA. One of the women accused of murdering Kim Jong-nam at Kuala Lumpur's international airport was released from prison earlier this year. Kim Yo Jong has become and increasingly central figure in the regime in recent years and is currently thought to be the front-runner to replace her brother. [151] Both the Indonesian and Vietnamese media later revealed that her release was due to a request letter sent by the Indonesian government, which had received a response from Malaysian attorney general Tommy Thomas. 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Man suspected of killing Kim Jong-un’s half-brother charged. View our online Press Pack. [129], Meanwhile, on the Siti Aisyah side according to her lawyer Gooi Soon Seng, he slammed Malaysian investigators for not allowing him to meet Aisyah during her 14-day remand and not releasing portions of the video linked to the attack as well for the authorities failure to copy all the footage from the CCTV server of the airport which compromised the defence of Aisyah. Doan Thi Huong, the last suspect who'd been in custody after being charged in the death of Kim Jong Nam with VX nerve agent, said at the airport that “the case has come to a complete end.”, MALAYSIA STILL HAS A 'PROBLEM' WITH NORTH KOREA, TWO YEARS AFTER ASSASSINATION OF KIM JONG UN'S HALF-BROTHER.