‘We can’t confirm Kim Chol’s identity’


Jong Nam arrives at Beijing airport in Beijing, China, in this photo taken by Kyodo February 11, 2007. Picture taken February 11, 2007. - Kyodo/via REUTERS

SHAH ALAM: The identity of Kim Chol cannot be conclusively confirmed because no familial DNA can be obtained for a comparison, a forensic pathologist told the High Court.

Dr Mohd Shah Mahmood said a test could not be done because he only had a blood sample from the deceased.

During cross-examination, accused Doan Thi Huong’s lawyer Datuk Naran Singh asked why there was a delay in the post-mortem.

He noted that the body was sent to the Hospital Putrajaya morgue on Feb 14, but the autopsy was only done the next day at Hospital Kuala Lumpur.

Dr Mohd Shah said the post-mortem was postponed following an objection from an embassy.

“There was an objection by an embassy representative made to the police and the Foreign Ministry.

“It was also referred to the AGC (Attorney-General’s Chambers),” he said.

Asked who exactly made the objection, Dr Mohd Shah said he only remembered that it came from “a Korean embassy”, but was not sure because it was a verbal objection.

Asked by Naran if there was pressure not to do the post-mortem, the doctor said yes.

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