Kim Jong-nam murder trial set for Oct 2

SHAH ALAM: The Kim Jong-nam murder trial has been set for 23 days starting Oct 2.

High Court judge Justice Azmi Ariffin set the date after a case management in open court here Friday.

He said plea from both the accused will be recorded on the first day of the trial.

The accused, Indonesian Siti Aisyah and Vietnamese Doan Thi Huong, were present in the court. Both wore baju kurung.

Armed policemen guarding one of several locations around the court complex in Shah Alam

Earlier, Justice Azmi allowed a request by DPP Muhamad Iskandar Ahmad that both the accused be tried jointly on grounds that the offence took place at the same place and time.

Muhamad Iskandar said the prosecution would be calling 30 to 40 witnesses, including 10 experts, to testify.

Siti Aisyah, 25, and Doan, 29, have been charged with the murder of Jong-nam, the half brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, at KLIA2 on Feb 13.

They face the mandatory death sentence upon conviction.

Filepix of Siti Aisyah and Doan

The court complex was in a lock down since 6.30am as armed policemen stood guard at strategic locations.

Amidst the heavy security, firemen were called to the court complex after a group of people were trapped in an elevator for about 40 minutes. A man inside the elevator fainted.

All were eventually freed and the man was given medical attention.