WHEN the Kim Jong-nam murder trial starts today, defence lawyers will start by asking one question: why weren’t they allowed to speak to the three North Koreans allegedly implicated in the brazen assassination.

They will raise the issue of not being given access to three North Koreans who were allowed to leave Malaysia after the murder, and why their statements to the police were not given to the defence lawyers.

The three, including a diplomat, sought refuge in the North Korean embassy in Kuala Lumpur after Jong-nam’s murder on February 13. They were wanted for questioning by the Malaysian authorities but North Korea refused to cooperate, claiming that he died of a heart attack.

In a deal between Pyongyang and Putrajaya, the three, and Jong-nam’s body, were exchanged for the return of nine Malaysians barred from leaving North Korea.

The trial of the two women – Vietnamese Doan Thi Huong and Indonesian Siti Aisyah – charged with the murder of Jong-nam, begins at the Shah Alam High Court today.

The two were jointly charged with causing the death of Jong-nam, the exiled half-brother of North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un, at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 on February 13 by smearing his face with VX, a chemical the United Nations describes as a weapon of mass destruction.

Lawyers representing the two accused told The Malaysian Insight that the authorities have yet to give them the statements from the North Koreans who were allowed to leave.

“We have asked for the documents and statements but it was rejected,” they said.

Gooi Soon Seng, who is representing Siti Aisyah, believes the prosecution will not call the three North Koreans as its witnesses.

“They will not be available to the defence teams as well,” Gooi told The Malaysia Insight.

“We had also requested the police to supply us with a copy of their statements.”

Hisyam Teh Pok Teik who will appear for Doan said they will raise this matter up again when trial begins today.

Meanwhile, the prosecution, led by deputy public prosecutor Muhamad Iskandar Ahmad, said the lawyers must be patient.

“Be patient, be patient… at the moment, we are not obliged to say anything. We will reveal more during the trial,” Iskandar said.

Despite the setbacks, Hisyam said Doan is in a positive mood and is looking forward to the trial to maintain her innocence.

“I met her quite a number of times. She is in good health and doing fine. She is looking forward to the trial,” said Hisyam.

“We are ready and prepared. That is all I can say. I cannot go into details about the case.”

The trial is expected to go on for 23 days, right up to November. It is expected that the first 10 days of trial will hear the testimonies of experts’ findings.

Gooi said the defence might only get their chance to bring in their witnesses next year.

He said Siti Aisyah is also doing well and allowed to call her family.

“None of them came to visit but she was allowed to call her family. She is doing well.”

Huong will be presented by three lawyers – Hisyam, Naran Singh and Salim Bashir – while Siti Aisyah will be presented by Gooi and his team.

The Indonesian and Vietnamese embassies here have given the lawyers a free hand to handle the case. – October 2, 2017.