Malaysian court releases Indonesian murder suspect

Kuala Lumpur (ANTARA) - A court in Selangor, Malaysia on Monday has released from custody Siti Aisyah, an Indonesian woman charged with the murder of Kim Jong-nam, the stepbrother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

Public prosecutor Muhamad Iskandar Bin Ahmad has dropped the charge against Siti Aisyah in the trial led by judge Dato` Azmi Bin Ariffin.

The trial of the case was started on March 1, 2017.

Present at the trial were Indonesian Ambassador to Malaysia Rusdi Kirana, Director of Indonesian citizens protection of the Foreign Ministry Lalu Muhammad Iqbal, and head of the Task Force for Indonesian Citizens Protection in Kuala Lumpur Yusron B Ambary.

"I am happy with the judge`s decision and Siti Aisyah can soon return to Jakarta," coordinator of Siti Aisyah`s lawyers team from Gooi & Azura law firm, Gooi Soon Seng said here after the trial.

Sharing the same excitement, the Indonesian Ambassador in Kuala Lumpur Rusdi Kirana said he is happy with the court`s decision and it has been the embassy`s task to protect and serve Indonesian citizens in the country.

"We hope that Siti Aisyah could be returned home soon to meet with her family," he added.

The Director of Indonesian Citizens Protection of the Foreign Ministry Lalu Muhammad Iqbal said, he has contacted Minister Retno Marsudi and shared information on the court`s verdict.

Siti was one of two women charged with the murder of Kim Jong-nam in Kuala Lumpur airport in February 2017. Another suspect is a Vietnamese woman Doan Thi Huong.

The women were accused of smearing the toxic nerve agent VX on his face as he waited to board a flight to Macau. He died within 20 minutes.

However, Siti claimed she had been tricked by some people who told them they were playing a prank for a Japanese comedy show.

Reporting by Agus Setiawan, Sri Haryati

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Editor: Fardah Assegaf