AG’s prerogative to drop charges against Siti Aisyah in Kim Jong-nam’s murder case, says outgoing Malaysian Bar chief

PETALING JAYA: Attorney General Tommy Thomas may have his reasons for dropping charges against Siti Aisyah, but continues the prosecution of Doan Thi Huong in the Kim Jong-nam’s murder case, says the Malaysian Bar.

Outgoing Malaysian Bar president George Varughese, in a joint interview with Malay Mail and Sin Chew Daily, said the Attorney General has the prerogative to drop charges.

“It may jeopardise this proceeding if he were to divulge that. I don’t know. I’m also speculating here.

“Like I said, it’s his prerogative,” Varughese said in the interview at the end of his two-year term as Malaysian Bar president on Saturday (March 16).

Varughese, however, also said that to avoid speculation, "it would be good if the Attorney General could give his reasons for dropping the charges."

Indonesian Siti Aisyah was implicated together with 29-year-old Doan Thi Huong in the murder of Jong-nam.

Jong-nam is the half brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

On Monday (March 11), the Shah Alam High Court granted a discharge not amounting to an acquittal to Siti Aisyah, after the prosecution informed the court that it had been instructed to withdraw the charge.

Siti Aisyah and Doan were charged with four others still at large with Jong-nam's murder at the departure hall of KLIA2 at 9am on Feb 13, 2017.

The charge under Section 302 of the Penal Code carries the mandatory death sentence upon conviction.