MALACCA: Police are poised to make more arrests, including of an “important suspect”, over the murder of Kim Jong-nam, the half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, in Kuala Lumpur last month.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar, however, declined to divulge further details on the impending arrests, adding only that the suspects will be detained at “the appropriate time.”
"I do not deny that there are more North Koreans involved in the assassination of Kim Jong-nam, and we will use the proper channels, according to the law, to arrest them.
"But I do not wish to disclose (details) now," said Khalid.
He was speaking to reporters at the "Kembara Sang Saka Biru" programme in conjunction with the 210th Police Day at Jalan Merdeka, in Banda Hilir, here today.
Also present were Federal police management director Datuk Seri Zulkifli Abdullah and State police chief Datuk Abdul Jalil Hassan.
Khalid also refused to state the number of those sought by police, nor their nationalities.
Police have so far named seven North Korean men wanted in connection with the case, including four believed to have fled back to their country, and three who are thought to be holed up in the North Korean embassy in KL.
"We must first go after the four men whom we have secured an Interpol red notice for, (then) record statements from the trio which we believe are still in the North Korean embassy in Kuala Lumpur.
“All these will be done through the proper legal channels," he added.
Khalid also called on members of the public not to make any speculation based on the CCTV recording of the assassination which took place at klia2, and news reports of the possible involvement of a “ninth suspect.”
He also said that police have no further need to detain Jong-nam's body, as they have already wrapped up investigations on the victim’s identity and cause of death.
"No need to ask the police on that, as we have nothing else to do with the body. We have handed it to the Health Ministry,” he said.
However, he stressed that investigations into the murder case is ongoing, and he said he hopes for the cooperation of Pyongyang in surrendering the four North Korean suspects to assist in investigations.
"We do not want to interfere in (other country’s) political matters, but it is our responsibility to investigate a murder case which occurred within our jurisdiction. So I hope the North Koreans can assist us in solving the murder case of Kim Jong-nam,” Khalid added.