The Indonesian woman accused of killing Kim Jong-Nam, half-brother of North Korea’s Kim Jong-un, has been freed after charges against her were dropped. As the BBC reported, the judge ruled that Ms Aisyah could be dismissed but did not go as far as fully acquitting her.
The prosecutor in the case requested the murder charge be dropped, without giving a reason. The judge approved the request, saying “Siti Aisyah is freed”, according to AFP news agency. However, this does not amount to an acquittal. According to deputy public prosecutor Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin, the murder likened the “assassination” to something seen “in 007 agent movie”.
Both Siti Aisyah and her co-accused, Vietnamese Doan Thi Huong, deny half-brother of North Korea’s Kim Jong-un’s murder and insisted all the time they thought they were part of a popular local TV prank. In February 2017, two women had been accused of smearing VX nerve agent on Mr Kim’s face in Kuala Lumpur airport. Since then, the investigation was conducting.
In 2017, the brazen killing at an international Kuala Lumpur airport left observers stunned and made international headlines. None expected such a well-planned murder of the celebrity in the public place. Despite the judge’s decision, Ms Aisyah could have faced the death penalty if convicted.
“I feel happy. I did not know this will happen. I did not expect it,” she said after leaving the court.
The lawyer team was expected to start its evidence on Monday but in a shock announcement at the beginning of proceedings, it was confirmed that the prosecution had withdrawn its case against Ms Aisyah.
Ms Huong, co-accused, had initially been expected to read a statement in court on Monday, which would have been the first time either of the two gave testimony. However, Vietnamese’s case has now been adjourned at the request of her lawyers.
