Kim Jong-nam's murder: AGC rejects Doan's representation to drop charge

SHAH ALAM, March 14  (Bernama) --  The Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) has rejected a representation by a Vietnamese woman charged with the murder of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un's half-brother, Kim Chol or Kim Jong-nam, for the charge to be dropped.

The prosecution, conducted by deputy public prosecutor Muhamad Iskandar Ahmad, told this to High Court judge Datuk Azmi Ariffin during proceeding of the case today.

Lawyer Hisyam Teh Poh Teik, representing the woman, Doan Thi Huong, 30, said the defence was disappointed with the decision.

"There is a very obvious discrimination against my client because in this case the court ruled that there is prima facie case against both accused...both ran the same defence before the court. 

"Both accused stated through the counsel that they were doing video pranks. Both maintained through the counsels that they were made scapegoats by four North Koreans," he said.

Last Monday, Hisyam said the defence would submit a representation to the AGC for a review of the charge against Doan after the prosecution withdrew a similar charge against  another accused, Indonesian Siti Aishah, 26, under Section 254 (1) of the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC).

Doan and Siti Aisyah were charged with four others still at large with the murder of Jong-nam at the departure hall of the KL International Airport 2 (klia2) at 9 am on Feb 13, 2017.

Last Monday, Siti Aisyah was discharged,  but not amounting to an acquittal, after the prosecution  withdrew the murder charge against her.

On Aug 16, 2018, the court ordered Siti Aisyah and Doan to enter their defence on the charge.

They were charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which provides for the mandatory death sentence upon conviction.

-- BERNAMA