Two foreign women charged with murder of North Korean man

Siti Aisyah, 25, an Indonesian national, and Doan Thi Huong, 29, a Vietnamese citizen, were charged with four other people still at large with the murder of Kim Chol, 45, at the klia2 departure hall at about 9am on that day.

Authorities have established that the bearer of the passport with the name Kim Chol was actually Kim Jong-nam, estranged elder half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

At the court today, the charge was read out to the women separately. No plea was recorded from them.

Siti Aisyah is the first accused and Thi Huong, the second.

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

Siti Aisyah and Thi Huong were calm as they were brought to the courtroom separately at 10.10am.

Sessions Court Judge Harith Sham Mohamed Yasin, who sat as a magistrate, set April 13 for mention of the case.

The prosecution was represented by Selangor Prosecution director Muhamad Iskandar Ahmad.

Five lawyers led by Gooi Soon Seng appeared for Siti Aisyah while Thi Huong was represented by counsel S. Selvam.