FOUR suspects at large in the Kim Jong-nam murder appeared to be in active discussion for over an hour at KLIA2 before the North Korean was smeared with a deadly nerve agent, closed-circuit television footage shown in trial proceedings today revealed.

The footage, presented at the Shah Alam High Court today, showed the men moving separately at times along the airport’s four levels.

They eventually converged near Bibik Heritage, a restaurant near the self check-in kiosks at the airport’s departure hall where Jong-nam was attacked.

The men also appeared to have changed clothes and their appearances at multiple toilets during their time the airport, footage showed.

The men’s real identities and nationality have yet to be ascertained at the trial of Vietnamese Doan Thi Huong, 28 and Indonesian Siti Asyah, 25.

Police have labelled the four as “Hanamori”, “Mr Y”, “Mr Chang” and “James”.

Doan and Siti Aisyah have been charged with Jong-nam’s murder under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which carries the mandatory death sentence.

Jong-nam died on February 13 in an ambulance on the way to the Putrajaya Hospital due to exposure to the nerve agent, authorities said.

The women have claimed innocence, saying they believed they were participating in a prank for a television show.

Investigating officer Asst Supt Wan Azirul Nizam Chie Wan Aziz told the court today that “Hanamori”, a man wearing a purple shirt, appeared to be in charge.

“Hanamori’s role is that of the organiser,” said Azirul. Deputy public prosecutor Muhamad Iskandar Ahmad led the cross-examination.

Footage showed a grey Naza Ria, allegedly being driven by Hanamori, dropping off Mr Y and Mr Chang at 7.30am, with both men wearing grey shirts, black caps and black shoes. Footage showed Mr Y with a black bag and Mr Chang clasping a white plastic bag.

Mr Y was seen to meet up with Doan at the departure hall on Level 3.

“Doan behaved normally, appeared relaxed and played with her shirt,” Azirul testified.

At the restaurant about an hour before the attack, Hanamori met with James, a man defence lawyers had said recruited Siti, and introduced her to Mr Chang.  

Hanamori also met Mr Y and Mr Chang separately at the restaurant over an hour before the attack.

Conversations had appeared to be brief and calm, the footage showed.

Forty-five minutes before the attack, Mr Chang met Siti at Bibik Heritage, where prosecutors said he passed what appeared to be a taxi ticket to her.

CCTV footage of Mr Chang purchasing a bottle of mineral water showed he had facial hair, Azirul testified.

Separate footage also showed Mr Chang at the taxi counter on level 1.

Jong-nam was smeared with the chemicals at exactly 9.00am.

“Hanamori still hung around the area as though ensuring things went according to plan,” Azirul testified.

Mr Y and Mr Chang were later shown to enter toilets and leaving with different shirts and their caps missing.

Mr Chang also appeared to had shaven off his facial hair, Azirul said.

Mr Y left a toilet at level 2M at 9.23am, with different clothes and without his bag. At 9.28am, Mr Chang headed to Level 1 to the taxi stand, wearing different clothes and without the white plastic bag.

Asked how the investigating team were able to tell the men apart or pick them out of the crowd, Azirul replied, “We are able to identify them from the shape of their bodies, the way they moved and their clothes.”

“What I noticed about all the suspects was that even after they changed their clothes and appearances, they didn’t change their shoes.”

Days after the attack, police released the names of four North Koreans – Ri Ji Hyon, 33, Hong So Hac, 34, O Jong Gil, 55, and Ri Jae Nam, 57 – as suspects.

The men fled the country soon after Jong-nam’s death, police had said.

The hearing will resume November 6. – October 26, 2017.