Malaysia's High Court said on Friday that the trial of two women accused of killing the estranged half brother of North Korea's leader will begin on Oct 2. Indonesian Siti Aisyah and Doan Thi Huong from Vietnam were charged with murdering Kim Jong Nam at Kuala Lumpur airport on Feb 13 by swiping a lethal nerve agent called VX, a chemical the United Nations describes as a weapon of mass destruction.
The two suspects appeared in the High Court in Kuala Lumpur on Friday waiting for the final date of the trial. The 25-year-old Aisyah and 28-year-old Huong were seen heavily guarded and wearing bullet-proof vests before being led inside for the hearing.
However, the woman, who can face the death penalty if convicted, claims that they were duped into believing they were taking part in a reality TV show and they were paid to commit the crime.
Nearly 200 police officers were deployed outside the High Court in Sham Alam for the high-profile case, including armed officers.
The death of Kim Jong-Nam, who was about to board a flight to Macau, sparked a serious diplomatic row between Malaysia and North Korea, with Kuala Lumpur expelling the North's ambassador and Pyongyang banning Malaysians from leaving the country. North Korea was accused by Seoul for being responsible for the murder of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's estranged relative, a charge Pyongyang denies.
But, the tensions had finally eased after Malaysia agreed to the return of Kim body to Pyongyang. Nine Malaysians, who were prevented from leaving Pyongyang, were freed and three North Koreans in Malaysia were allowed to go home, under the terms of the agreement.
Meanwhile, the police are still trying to trace four North Koreans who are suspected of having taken part in the murder plot. But, it is believed that they have returned to their capital immediately after the killing.
