SHAH ALAM: The investigation into the murder of North Korean Kim Chol (Kim Jong-nam) last year was under the ‘closed purview’ of the-then Royal Malaysia Police’s top brass, the High Court heard today.
When testifying today, Sepang Police Department senior investigating officer Assistant Superintendent Wan Azirul Nizam Che Wan Aziz said that while probing the case, he was “under the constraint” of the police’s top leadership, including the-then Inspector General of Police, Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar.
His testimony is as follows:
Q: You were under constraint when investigating the case?
A: Yes.
Q: From whom?
A: From my superior.
Q: The then Inspector General of Police (Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar)?
A: Yes.
Q: From the Deputy Inspector General of Police? (Tan Sri Noor Rashid Ibrahim)
A: Yes.
Q: You (also) received instructions from the Selangor Criminal Investigation Department (chief Senior Assistant Commissioner Fadzil Ahmat)?
A: Yes.
Q: Your investigation was controlled by your superior?
A: I do not agree.
During the cross examination, Wan Azirul managed to control his emotions while being bombarded with questions by counsel Datuk Naran Sigh, who argued that his (Wan Azirul’s) investigation was incomplete and imperfect.
Q: Do you agree that your investigation was incomplete and imperfect?
A: I admit there were mistakes.
Q: No, I said incomplete and imperfect, not that you made a mistake. I never said mistake, I know what mistake means.
A: I disagree that my investigation was incomplete and imperfect.
Wan Azirul later said police had obtained an Interpol Red Notice against four North Koreans believed to be involved in the elaborate assassination.
He said this was aimed at tracking down four men who had fled the country after the murder, namely Rhi Ji-hyon, 33; Hong Song-hac, 34; O Jong-gil, 55; and Ri Jae-nam, 57.
The trial continues on Jan 23 before Judge Datuk Azmi Ariffin.
On March 1, Indonesian Siti Aisyah and Vietnamese Doan Thi Huong were charged at the Sepang magistrate's court with murdering Kim Chol, 45, with four others still at large.
Kim Chol was later established to be Kim Jong-nam, the estranged half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
The duo allegedly committed the offence at klia2’s departure hall at around 9am on Feb 13, 2017.
The charge under Section 302 of the Penal Code carries a mandatory death penalty.