Malaysia gives assurance on welfare, legal rights of Siti Aisyah

JAKARTA: Malaysia has given an assurance on the welfare and legal rights of Indonesian national Siti Aisyah (pic) who has been arrested in Malaysia over the killing of North Korean Kim Jong-nam on Feb 13.

Malaysian Ambassador to Indonesia Datuk Seri Zahrain Mohamed Hashim said Wednesday Malaysia held firm to the principle that a person is innocent until proven guilty.

Speaking to reporters here, he said Malaysia had never shown any difference in the treatment of foreign nationals arrested by the police for breaking the law.

He also said that all quarters should give their cooperation for any case to be resolved and that it was for the courts to determine whether a person was guilty or not.

Zahrain said Siti Aisyah would have to be subjected to the legal process and would be prosecuted if there was a case against her.

Siti Aisyah, 25, is one of four people arrested so far by Malaysian police over the murder of Jong-nam, older half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

On Feb 13, Jong-nam was at the KL International Airport 2 (KLIA2) in Sepang, Malaysia, at about 8am, waiting for his flight to Macau, when a woman suddenly covered his face with a cloth laced with what is believed to be poison.

Jong-nam sought help at a customer service counter and was rushed to hospital but died on the way.

Zahrain said the issue concerned national sovereignty because a crime had been committed and, as such, the Malaysian police were conducting an investigation to establish the truth.

"Therefore, place full confidence in the Malaysian police. They are also working with Interpol in the investigation," he said.

The media here had quoted Indonesian authorities as saying that they be allowed to meet Siti Aisyah. - Bernama