KUALA LUMPUR - North Korean suspect Ri Jong Chol may be released due to a lack of evidence when his remand period ends this Friday, Malaysia's China Press reported on Wednesday (March 1).
China Press said that according to sources, Mr Ri was not seen on CCTV footage at the airport, and the two female suspects said, after they were arrested, that they did not know him.
Investigations also showed that there was no direct contact between Mr Ri and the two female suspects.
Sources from the police said that Mr Ri was arrested after they traced the license plate number of a car which turned out to belong to him. According to CCTV footage from the airport, the car was seen carrying other North Korean suspects.
However, Mr Ri insisted, after he was arrested, that his car was missing. He also said that he did not know the four key suspects from North Korea who have left Malaysia, and added that he did not know the two female suspects.
The Malaysian police have not found Mr Ri's car so far, and have not been able to arrest the four key suspects. They also do not have evidence linking Mr Ri to Mr Kim Jong Nam's assassination as Mr Ri was not seen on CCTV footage.
The Malaysian police are likely to submit the investigation report on Mr Ri to the Attorney General's Chamber (AGC) on Wednesday or Thursday, but it is highly likely that the AGC will order the release of Mr Ri due to a lack of evidence, the report said.
