Doan Thi Huong from Vietnam is accused of assassinating Kim Chol, believed to be the half-brother of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea leader Kim Jong-un. (Photo: AFP/VNA) Kuala Lumpur (VNA) – Doan Thi Huong from Vietnam, one of the two women suspects in the murder of Kim Chol, a man believed to be the half-brother of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea leader Kim Jong-un, pleaded not guilty when brought to the High Court of Malaysia on October 2.
The local prosecutor accused Huong and an Indonesian woman Siti Aisyah, alongside four other men, who are still at large, of assassinating Kim Chol on February 13, 2017, said Maridam, Huong’s interpreter at the trial.
The two women, allowed to enter their plea for the first time, insisted they are not guilty as they were duped into believing they were taking part in a harmless prank for a reality TV show.
The women’s lawyers urged the prosecutor to reveal identities of the four male suspects but their request was rejected as the court said it is not necessary.
Two witnesses showed up in the morning session of the court today.
According to Maridam, Huong is in a good condition on her sixth hearing of the trial, which will last 23 days with about 30-40 witnesses summoned.
Kim Chol, as named in his passport, died at Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 on February 13. Malaysia said Kim Chol was poisoned, but the DPRK insisted that he died of a heart attack, plus high blood pressure and diabetes.
Under the direction of Viet Nam's Foreign Ministry, the embassy of Vietnam in Malaysia will continue working closely with Vietnamese agencies concerned and Malaysian lawyers defending Huong to ensure the trial is fair and objective and Huong's legitimate interests are protected.
According to the Malaysian law, she would face the death penalty if found guilty.-VNA
VNA
