Malaysia releases image of suspected mastermind of Kim Jong-nam case in court

Doan Thi Huong is escorted to court today. Photo: AP.

Malaysian prosecutors today released to court images from surveillance cameras at Kuala Lumpur airport showing the actions of four male suspects and two female defendants before and after the murder of Kim Chol, suspected to be Kim Jong-nam, the brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, according to AP.

Wan Azirul Nizam Che Wan Aziz, who is in charge of the investigation, said the four male suspects were identified by their nicknames Hanamori, James, Chang and Y.

"Investigation shows that Hanamori played the role of mastermind," Wan Azirul confirmed in court today. Hanamori means "Grandfather" or "Uncle".

Surveillance cameras showed that Hanamori was the first to arrive at the airport at 7:30 a.m. on February 13, sitting at the same table as James. He then met and spoke privately with Chang and Y. After the two female suspects, Doan Thi Huong, a Vietnamese national, and Siti Aisyah, an Indonesian national, smeared VX nerve agent on the victim's face at 9 a.m., Hanamori, Chang and Y got into a car and drove from the low-cost carrier terminal to the main terminal.

Security cameras showed the three suspects changing clothes in the departure hall of the main terminal. Meanwhile, James headed towards the Sama-Sama Hotel in the airport. James entered his hotel room before checking out, then went to the departure hall of the main terminal.

Earlier, Mr Wan Azirul confirmed that Y and Chang had applied the liquid to the hands of the two female suspects before they applied it to the victim's face. Another video presented to the court today showed suspect Doan Thi Huong walking with Y at the airport, near the area where the victim was attacked, with a bottle of water in Y's hand at the time.

Lawyers for Huong and Aisyah said their clients were duped by the North Korean suspects into thinking they were taking part in a harmless reality TV show. Aisyah and Huong face the death penalty if convicted. Both suspects have denied the murder charges.

Aisyah’s lawyer, Gooi Soon Seng, told reporters that in January, her client was hired by James, who claimed to be doing a reality TV show, to act in a prank. James and Aisyah went to shopping malls, hotels and airports together, where she smeared oil or chili sauce on strangers. James recorded the footage on his mobile phone and paid Aisyah $100-200 for each act.

James then introduced Aisyah to a man named Chang, who claimed to be a Chinese prank video producer. On February 13, Chang pointed out Kim to Aisyah, telling her that she was his next target, and gave her the liquid.

Malaysian police only arrested Huong and Aisyah. The male suspects are believed to have returned to North Korea afterwards.

According to VNE