Malaysia to deport DPRK suspect in airport killing

KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysia said on Thursday that a man from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, who was arrested as a suspect following the killing of another DPRK citizen at Kuala Lumpur's airport, will be released and deported.

Ri Jong Chol, the 47-year-old man who worked at a local anti-cancer drug company, was arrested on Feb 17 for his suspected involvement in the case, in which a DPRK man with the passport name of Kim Chol was poisoned with the lethal nerve agent VX.

The incident happened on Feb 13. Ri was remanded for two weeks in police custody. The remand will expire on Friday.

Malaysia's Attorney General Mohamed Apandi Ali did not elaborate on the reasons of the release, but local media said it was due to a lack of evidence. During the investigation, the police did not reveal the connections between him and four other suspects believed to have fled the country.

On Wednesday, two female suspects who allegedly carried out the attack, one Indonesian and one Vietnamese, were charged with murder. If convicted, they will face death sentence.

Meanwhile, Malaysia will revoke visa-free entry for citizens from the DPRK starting Monday, Malaysia's Bernama news agency reported on Thursday, citing Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. Zahid said the decision was made after taking into account national security as a priority, according to the Bernama report.

Malaysia grants visa-free treatment for DPRK citizens and is the only one that enjoys visa-free entry when its citizens enter DPRK.

A diplomatic row emerged between the two countries as the DPRK accused the Malaysian side of "colluding with hostile forces" and delaying the release of the victim's body. The DPRK government also sent a high-level delegation to Malaysia to discuss about the matter.

Malaysia insisted its objectivity and professionalism in the investigation.

(China Daily 03/03/2017 page12)