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British barrister calls for proper probe into death of Kim Jong-nam given human trafficking fears
Felicity Gerry QC, who has been involved in court cases in Hong Kong, urges countries to put in place robust frameworks against human trafficking
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British criminal law barrister Felicity Gerry QC has called for a proper investigation into the death of the half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Malaysia amid fears that the two alleged attackers might be victims of human trafficking.
In light of this possibility, the lawyer, who has been involved in court cases in Hong Kong, urged countries to put in place robust frameworks against human trafficking.
Kim Jong-nam died after two women swiped his face with VX nerve agent – classified as a weapon of mass destruction – at Kuala Lumpur’s airport on February 13. The two, who were identified on CCTV cameras, were charged with murder on March 1. They might face the death penalty.
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News has emerged suggesting the women – Siti Aisyah, 25, from Jakarta, and Doan Thi Huong, 28, from rural northern Vietnam – thought they were part of a prank for a TV show, were paid a limited fee and may have been duped and exploited.
According to an Indonesian official, Siti said she had been paid about US$90, Associated Pressreported.
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A North Korean man was held as a suspect, but ended up being deported for lack of evidence. Siti’s boyfriend was also detained, but later released on bail.
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