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Jong Nam murder: Cop reveals identity of 5th N Korean suspect

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Investigating officer says Special Branch info showed there was another North Korean who called himself ‘James’, but immigration has no record of his entry.

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KUALA LUMPUR: The investigating officer in the Kim Jong Nam murder case said that a fifth suspect, also with the name of “James” was allegedly involved in killing Kim Jong Nam.

ASP Wan Azirul Nizam Che Wan Aziz told the High Court today that based on the intelligence information he obtained from Bukit Aman’s Special Branch, two men were using the name of “James”.

“I had sought SB’s help to track the four men at large for the death, and they provided me five names of men with North Korean nationalities,” he said.

Azirul added that the information he was provided gave the name of the four men as Hong Song Hac, 34 (who was known as Chang); Ri Ji Hyon, 33 (Mr Y); Ri Jae Nam, 57 (Hanamori), and O Jong Gil, 55 (James).

He also said SB’s information showed one more suspect Ri Ji U, 30, who was also known as “James”.

“However, SB said there was no information in immigration records on when Ri Ji U entered the country and left subsequently. He was identified from the mobile phone of one of the accused,” he said when asked by deputy public prosecutor Iskandar Ahmad to state the contents given by the SB.

Previously the police officer attached to Sepang police district headquarters testified on the four men’s alleged roles in Jong Nam’s death, with the two accused, Indonesian Siti Aisyah and Vietnamese Doan Thi Huong.

Former inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar said police had sought Interpol’s help to nab Ji Hyon, Song Hac, Jong Gil, and Jae Nam.

Siti Aisyah and Doan are standing trial for a charge of murdering the estranged half-brother of North Korean supreme leader Kim Jong Un on Feb 13.

Jong Nam, the eldest son of former North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, arrived in Malaysia on Feb 6, and was at klia2 to board a 9am flight to Macau on the day he was killed.

He died on the way to Putrajaya Hospital, sparking a diplomatic row between Putrajaya and Pyongyang.

During the opening statement on Oct 2, the prosecution said it would prove that the two women approached Jong Nam at the airport’s departure hall and sprayed VX nerve agent on his eyes and face.

Prosecutors told the court the actions of Siti Aisyah and Doan showed that they intended to cause Jong Nam’s death.

When asked by Iskandar about the four’s whereabouts, Azirul said “Hanamori”, “Chang”, and “Mr Y” had left Malaysia to Jakarta, Indonesia on the afternoon of Feb 13, hours after the alleged murder took place.

“‘James’ left on the same day as the other three men but in the late afternoon,” he said, referring to O Jong Gil.

Azirul said he could not recall where “James” had gone to.

The court was also shown closed circuit television (CCTV) recordings today, showing “Hanamori”, “Chang”, “Mr Y” and “James” going through immigration checks at the departure gate in KLIA on Feb 13.

The footage revealed a clear image showing the three men queuing up to board the flight at 12.30pm.

“James” was also seen on the CCTV footage before his flight at around 3pm.

The hearing continues tomorrow before Justice Azmi Ariffin.

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