Third court hearing on murder of DPRK citizen held

May 31, 2017 - 09:00

The Sepang district court in Malaysia’s Selangor State held the third hearing on May 30 regarding the case of the murder of Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) citizen Kim Chol.

Vietnamese national Đoàn Thị Hương (L) is escorted by Malaysian police to a court appearance with Indonesian national Siti Aisyah (not pictured) at the Sepang Magistrate court yesterday, for their alleged role in the death of Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) citizen Kim Chol. — AFP/VNA Photo
Viet Nam News

KUALA LUMPUR — The Sepang district court in Malaysia’s Selangor State held the third hearing on May 30 regarding the case of the murder of Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) citizen Kim Chol.

The two suspects in the case are Vietnamese national Đoàn Thị Hương and Indonesian national Siti Aisyah.

The hearing, presided over by Judge Harith Sham Mohamed Yasin, lasted for 25 minutes with the participation of lawyers representing the two suspects, and a lawyer assigned by the Embassy of the DPRK in Malaysia.

The court decided to transfer the case to the Shah Alam High Court, also in Selangor state.

The Vietnamese Embassy in Malaysia sent representatives to the hearing to ensure that fairness in procedures was fully observed, and the legitimate rights and interests of the Vietnamese suspect are protected. According to the interpreter for Đoàn Thị Hương at court, Hương is in good health. 

Kim Chol, as named in his passport, died at Kuala Lumpur International Airport on February 13. Malaysia said he was poisoned, but the DPRK insisted that he died of a heart attack, brought on by high blood pressure and diabetes.

At the court hearing on March 1, the two women were charged with murder. They denied the charge, claiming they were deceived and took part in what they thought an innocuous prank. 

According to Malaysian law, the two suspects face the death penalty if found guilty.

Previously, Đoàn Văn Thạnh, father of Đoàn Thị Hương, visited his daughter on April 11 in Kajang prison, Selangor state, prior to her trial.

According to Thạnh, Hương was in good health. Staff from the Vietnamese Embassy in Malaysia paid regular visits to her in prison. — VNS

 

 

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