North Korean In Murder Probe To Be Released, Deported - Malaysia's Attorney General

KUALA LUMPUR, March 2 (Bernama) -- A North Korean man in custody in the probe into the murder of a fellow countryman will be released and deported as soon as possible. Attorney-General Mohamed Apandi Ali told Bernama Thursday, this is because there is insufficient evidence to charge 47-year-old Ri Jong-chol. Jong-chol has been remanded since Feb 18 in connection with the murder of Kim Chol, widely reported to be Kim Jong-nam, the estranged half-brother of North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un. The remand order for Jong-chol in the case that has garnered international attention, will expire tomorrow. It was reported that Jong-nam was at KL International Airport 2 (klia2) on Feb 13 to board a flight to Macau when two women suddenly wiped his face with toxic liquid which was later identified as the VX nerve agent. Jong-nam reportedly sought help at a customer service counter at the airport and was rushed to Putrajaya Hospital but died on the way. He had come to Malaysia on Feb 6. Yesterday, two foreign women were charged in Sepang Magistrate's Court with the murder of Kim Chol. Siti Aisyah, 25, an Indonesian citizen, and Doan Thi Huong, 28, a Vietnamese citizen, were charged with four other people still at large with the murder of Kim Chol, 45, at klia2 departure hall at about 9am on Feb 13. The women were charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code which provides for the mandatory death sentence upon conviction. -- BERNAMA