Malaysia: Trial of Vietnamese defendant delayed

Vietnamese defendant Doan Thi Huong (centre) is escorted to leave the Shah Alam High Court on March 14 (Photo: AFP/VNA)

The court made the decision after a discussion between prosecutors and Huong’s lawyer after the start of the trial earlier in the morning the same day.

After the decision was announced, Huong, a suspect in the murder of the holder of a Democratic People’s Republic of Korean passport with the name of Kim Chol, met with Vietnamese Ambassador to Malaysia Le Quy Quynh. She thanked the Vietnamese State, the embassy and the diplomat for paying attention to her.

She also reiterated that she is innocent and also hopes for continued assistance from the embassy and relevant agencies.

Ambassador Quynh said the lawyer and the embassy will make utmost efforts to support Huong. He also affirmed that the Vietnamese Government and embassy hope that Malaysia will try the suspect in a fair manner and soon release her.

Earlier, Huong’s lawyer asked the Ministry of Justice and the Attorney General of Malaysia to release her after Siti Aisyah, the Indonesian suspect in the same case, had been freed on March 11. Malaysian prosecutors did not give the reason for the withdrawal of the charge against Siti Aisyah.

At a trial in August 2018, the high court declared they had collected sufficient evidence to indicate the two women and four DPRK suspects who fled the country had taken part in a scheme to murder Kim Chol./.

VNA