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A11
WORLD NEWS Friday 6 april 2018

Malaysian prosecutors rest case

in Kim Jong Nam murder trial

By EILEEN NG their defense, which could abroad for years after fall-
SHAH ALAM, Malaysia take several months. ing out of favor. It is thought
(AP) — Malaysian pros- The crux of the case re- he could have been seen
ecutors wrapped up their volves around whether the as a threat to Kim Jong
case Thursday against two women intended to kill Kim Un's rule. Malaysian offi-
Southeast Asian women or if they truly were scape- cials have never officially
accused of killing the es- goats duped by North Ko- accused North Korea of
tranged half brother of rean agents into taking involvement in Kim's death Indonesian Siti Aisyah, top left, and Vietnamese Doan Thi Hu-
North Korea's leader in a part in a high-profile politi- and have made it clear ong, bottom right, escorted by police as they leave after a court
brazen attack at an inter- cal assassination. they don't want the trial hearing at Shah Alam High Court in Shah Alam, Malaysia, Thurs-
national airport. Prosecu- Defense lawyers said the politicized.q day, April 5, 2018.
tors told the High Court that prosecution's case was Associated Press
they were resting their case too simplistic and failed to
against Indonesia's Siti Ai- show any motive for the kill-
syah, 25, and Vietnam's ing. They said evidence has
Doan Thi Huong, 29, after shown the women's con-
questioning 34 witnesses duct before and after the
over six months. The judge killing was inconsistent with
said closing arguments in that of an assassin, pointing
the trial, which could send out that they didn't wear
the women to the gallows gloves when applying VX,
if found guilty, will begin didn't dispose of their taint-
on June 27. Aisyah and ed clothing and didn't flee.
Huang are accused of Prosecutors, however, con-
smearing VX nerve agent tend the women knew they
on Kim Jong Nam's face in were handling poison.
a crowded airport terminal Hisyam Teh Poh Teik, Hu-
in Kuala Lumpur on Feb. ong's lawyer, told reporters
13, 2017. The women have he will argue in closing ar-
pleaded not guilty, saying guments that the women
they thought they were were deprived of a fair trial
taking part in a harmless due to a sloppy and biased
prank for a hidden-camera police investigation and
show. The two are the only the conspicuous absence
suspects in custody, though of the four North Korean
prosecutors say four North suspects. "We are confi-
Koreans who fled the coun- dent with the innocence
try were also involved. of our client because that's
After the closing argu- the truth," Teh said. Lead
ments, the judge will de- prosecutor Iskandar Ah-
cide whether there is a mad said it was common
case against the women. for an accused person to
If he decides there isn't, the be charged while other
women will be freed. If he suspects are still at large
decides there is, the wom- and that it doesn't affect
en will be called to make the case. He said evidence
has shown the women's
connection with the four
North Koreans, who had
recruited, trained and sup-
plied VX to them.
"We believe we have a
good case," Iskandar told
reporters. Kim, the eldest
son in the family that has
ruled North Korea since its
founding, had been living