‘LOL’ INDEED! NAJIB REGIME STARTING TO BACKTRACK ON JONG-NAM’S ID? ‘POSITIVE IDENTIFICATION’ NOT COMPLETE, NEITHER IS CAUSE OF OF DEATH KNOWN YET – M’SIAN MINISTRY AMID TONGUE-LASHING FROM N.KOREA

KUALA LUMPUR— Authorities conducting the post-mortem examination of Kim Jong-nam have not yet determined his cause of death, Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said today.

He also said that the positive identification of the body, believed to be that of the half-brother to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, was also not complete.

Dr Noor Hisham gave his assurance, however, that the examination was conducted by qualified and experienced consultant forensic pathologists, forensic radiologist and forensic odontologist, amid continued claims of conspiracy by North Korea.

“The medicolegal specimens were handed over to the Investigating Police Officer immediately after the post-mortem examination to be sent to accredited laboratories for analysis.

“These analyses are meant to confirm the identity of the deceased person and also the cause of death; both of which are still pending at the moment. There has been no second autopsy performed on this deceased person,” he said in a statement.

The Health DG further said that the body was handled in a respectful manner, and without compromising the chain of evidence.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam said yesterday that the autopsy results would likely be available today.

Medical examiners are still awaiting DNA samples from Kim’s family members in order to perform comparisons. His son, Kim Han-sol, was rumoured to be arriving in Malaysia today, but has yet to be seen.

Kim was allegedly poisoned last week at the KLIA2, and died shortly after.

Police have arrested four people — three foreigners and one local — over his death and are also seeking four North Korean nationals, although the quartet are believed to have fled the country already.

North Korean envoy to Malaysia, Kang Chol, has twice accused Malaysia of colluding in Kim’s death, and claimed that Malaysia could not be trusted to investigate the case.

Malaysia has recalled its ambassador to North Korea, with Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman yesterday categorising the allegations against Malaysia as “deeply insulting”.

MALAY MAIL