'I love you all,' pens freed Doan in farewell letter to Malaysia

PETALING JAYA: During her last night at the Kajang women's prison, Vietnamese Doan Thi Huong penned a heartfelt letter, thanking those responsible for securing her freedom.

It was a happy ending for Doan, who will be boarding a flight to Hanoi at 7.15pm on Friday (May 3) after spending two years behind bars after being accused of killing Kim Jong-nam, the half brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

"I thank everybody who prayed for me in church and at home as well.

"Thank you Lord Jesus for he loves so much.

"I'm very happy and thank you a lot. I love you all," read the last few lines in her neatly handwritten letter.

Doan thanked the Malaysian government, judge, Deputy Public Prosecutor, Attorney-General and the Kajang women's prison for taking good care of her.

"Thank you so much to the Malaysian government," read the opening line of the brief letter bearing her signature.

The 30-year-old also expressed her gratitude to the Vietnamese Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, the Vietnam Bar Federation (VBF), the Vietnamese government, all her lawyers and the media.

Doan's letter was read by her lawyer Hisyam Teh Poh Teik to members of the media in a special press conference at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) departure hall here on Friday (May 3).

The case is now closed and will not be reopened as there is no appeal by the prosecution against the sentence imposed on Doan by the High Court, said Hisyam.

"The case has come to a complete end as far as Doan is concerned," he said.

Also with Hisyam were Doan's other lawyers Salim Bashir and Datuk Naran Singh.

The trio will be flying to Vietnam with Doan and meeting the VBF on Saturday (May 4) for a final discussion on the case, to be followed with a small celebration.

Naran and Salim thanked the media for highlighting the case over the past two years, saying that the press played a vital role in helping Doan.

It was understood that Doan – who was not present at the press conference – will be taking a Vietnam Airlines flight home.

She escaped the gallows after pleading guilty last month to an alternative charge for causing hurt in the murder case of Jong-nam.

Doan, who was sentenced to three years and four months' jail by the Shah Alam High Court on April 1, was entitled to a one-third remission on the prison sentence, ordered to run from the date of her arrest on Feb 15, 2017.

The 30-year-old was sentenced after pleading guilty to a new charge under Section 324 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means.

According to the alternative charge, Doan and four individuals still at large, caused hurt to Kim Chol, an alias used by Jong-nam when he travelled, by using a dangerous substance known as VX nerve agent.

The offence was committed at the departure hall of KLIA2 at 9am on Feb 13, 2017.

Doan was previously charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder, which carries the mandatory death penalty if found guilty.

On March 12, Indonesian Siti Aisyah, 27, who was arrested together with Doan two years ago, was granted a discharge not amounting to an acquittal by the Shah Alam High Court and has since returned to her country.

The two women had allegedly smeared VX nerve agent on Jong-nam's face at KLIA2 on Feb 13, 2017.

They had claimed that they thought they were taking part in a prank for a television show.