No family member has stepped forward yet
Published on: Wednesday, February 22, 2017
Kuala Lumpur: The next-of-kin of assassinated North Korean Kim Jong-nam have yet to come forward to assist Malaysian authorities in identifying the victim. This was confirmed by Health Director-General Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah, who added that authorities will seek other modes of identification if the next-of-kin fail to show up within 14 days after the post-mortem result is obtained. "Other ways of identifying the body include (using) dental records to match the victim and external examination (of distinctive marks) like scars, moles and previous surgeries," he said at a press conference at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital (HKL).
ADVERTISEMENT
When asked on North Korea's claim that the victim died of a heart attack, Dr Noor Hisham dismissed it, saying there was no evidence for such a claim. "There was also nothing obvious (on the body), such as marks, scars or wounds," he said. On the post-mortem examination itself, Dr Noor Hisham said it was carried out at 12.45pm on Feb 15 and completed at 6.45pm on the same day. It was conducted in accordance with Section 331 of Malaysia's Criminal Procedure Code, in the presence of the investigating police officer. Dr Noor Hisham also confirmed that only one autopsy was performed on the deceased, and not two as has been reported. "The medicolegal specimens were handed over to the investigating police officer immediately after the post-mortem examination, to be sent to accredited laboratories for analyses.
ADVERTISEMENT
"These analyses are meant to confirm the identity of the deceased, and also, the cause of death; both of which are still pending at the moment," Dr Noor Hisham added. On Feb 13, Jong-nam, the half-brother of North Korean ruler Kim Jong-un, is believed to have been murdered at klia2.
ADVERTISEMENT
In HANOI, Vietnam is verifying information about a woman carrying a Vietnamese passport arrested by Malaysian police over the murder of Jong-nam in Malaysia on Feb 13.Vietnam News Agency reported that immediately after getting information on the case, the ministry directed the Vietnam Embassy in Malaysia "to work with local relevant bodies to clarify the information." A woman bearing a Vietnamese passport with the name Doan Thi Huong was arrested in Malaysia following the killing of Jong-nam, older half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, at the KL International Airport 2 (klia2) in Sepang, Malaysia. VNA reported that relevant agencies in Vietnam were also closely working on the case. It also said that the Vietnam Embassy in Malaysia was keeping a close watch on the case. Malaysian police have also arrested another woman, Siti Aishah who carried an Indonesian passport; a Malaysian man and a North Korean man. Jong-nam was at klia2 at 8am on Feb 13 to board a flight to Macau an hour later when a woman suddenly covered his face with a cloth laced with what is believed to be poison. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
Daily Express Malaysia
