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 fromVietnam, one of the two women suspects in the murder of Kim Chol, a manbelieved to be the half-brother of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea leaderKim Jong-un, pleaded not guilty when brought to the High Court of Malaysia onOctober 2.
The local prosecutor accused Huong and an Indonesian womanSiti Aisyah, alongside four other men, who are still at large, of assassinatingKim Chol on February 13, 2017, said Maridam, Huong’s interpreter at the trial.
The two women, allowed to enter their plea for thefirst time, insisted they are not guilty as they were duped into believing theywere taking part in a harmless prank for a reality TV show.
The women’s lawyers urged the prosecutor to revealidentities of the four male suspects but their request was rejected as thecourt said it is not necessary.
Two witnesses showed up in the morning session of thecourt today.
According to Maridam, Huong is in a good condition onher sixth hearing of the trial, which will last 23 days with about 30-40witnesses summoned.
Kim Chol, as named in his passport, died at KualaLumpur International Airport 2 on February 13. Malaysia said Kim Chol waspoisoned, but the DPRK insisted that he died of a heart attack, plus high bloodpressure and diabetes.
Under thedirection of Viet Nam's Foreign Ministry, the embassy of Vietnam in Malaysiawill continue working closely with Vietnamese agencies concerned and Malaysianlawyers defending Huong to ensure the trial is fair and objective and Huong'slegitimate interests are protected.
According tothe Malaysian law, she would face the death penalty if found guilty.-VNA
VNA
