Kim Jong-nam killing: Murder charge dropped against Indonesian

Kuala Lumpur, March 11 (IANS) An Indonesian woman was freed on Monday after a Malaysian judge discharged her of murder charge in the killing of North Korean leader Kim Jong-uns half brother, Kim Jong-nam.

Siti Aisyah, 25, had the murder charge against her discharged in the nerve agent killing of Kim Jong-nam, Al Jazeera reported.

The judge discharged Siti without an acquittal after prosecutors said they wanted to withdraw the charge. However, they did not specify.

A judge last August had found there was enough evidence to infer that Siti, along with Vietnamese suspect Doan Thi Huong and four missing North Koreans had engaged in a conspiracy to kill Kim Jong-nam.

Siti’s defence was put on hold as the court heard arguments over obtaining a witness statement.

A car carrying Siti Aisyah, 25, was seen leaving the court earlier after the court ruling, Al Jazeera reported.

"We appreciate (the decision)," Indonesia Ambassador Rusdi Kirana told reporters outside the courtroom. "We feel the court is fair. She’s our daughter…"

Siti and the others were accused of smearing a toxic agent, known as VX, on Kim Jong-nam’s face while he was at Kuala Lumpur’s airport on February 13, 2017.

The half brother of the North Korean leader, had reportedly had a falling out with the regime and lived in exile.