Doan Thi Huong, a Vietnamese citizen suspected of murdering Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) citizen Kim Chol, pleaded not guilty at the start of the trial in Malaysia on Monday.

Doan Thi Huong, a Vietnamese citizen suspected of murdering Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) citizen Kim Chol arrives for the trial in Malaysia in April. Photo: Reuters

Indonesian citizen Siti Aisyah, another suspect in the murder, also pleaded not guilty this morning.

The two defendants entered their pleas through interpreters at the Sham Alam High Court, outside the capital of Kuala Lumpur. The murder charge was read to them in their native languages.

They arrived at the court in handcuffs and wearing bulletproof coats, according to AFP.

The suspects were arrested several days after Kim Chol, according to the name on his passport, died at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport on February 13. 

Previously, at the court hearing on March 1, the two women were charged with murder, however, they denied the charge and claimed that they were duped into believing they were participating in a prank for a reality TV show.

They face the death penalty if convicted.

According to The Star, the trial will last 23 days. The court will summon some 30 witnesses and 10 specialists during the hearing.

As many as 200 police personnel had been mobilised to guard the court. 

VNS