‘WE ONLY IDENTIFIED THE TYPE OF POISON, WE NEVER SAID WHERE IT CAME FROM’: M’SIAN COPS START TO GUARD THEIR WORDS AFTER EARLIER BRASH INSINUATIONS BY TOP COP RAISE EYEBROWS

AMPANG JAYA: Police are waiting for a report from the Chemistry Department to determine if chemicals other than the VX nerve agent were used in the assassination of Kim Jong-nam.

Selangor police chief Comm Datuk Seri Abdul Samah Mat said the Chemistry Department has to analyse all the samples before investigators could determine if there were other types of chemical or poison used in the murder.

He also declined to confirm reports of various chemicals being seized from a condominium in Jalan Klang Lama by a Hazmat (hazardous materials) team on Thursday.

“I confirm that the search (on the condominium) was conducted in connection with the case. It is part of our investigation.

“At this stage, I cannot comment on whether or not any chemicals were found (in the search). Our investigating team is still working on it. We have to wait for our Forensics Unit to conduct an analysis.

“If we find something, we would definitely liase with the Chemistry Department for confirmation.

“As of now, I cannot reveal what we found,” he told reporters here Saturday.

Jong-nam, the elder half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, was killed after two women splashed a chemical on his face at Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 (KLIA2) on Feb 13.

The two women, a Malaysian man and a North Korean man have been arrested to assist in the investigations.

On Friday, police said the chemical used was the VX nerve agent, classified by the United Nations as a weapon of mass destruction.

Comm Abdul Samah said police are also probing whether the chemicals were produced locally or had been brought into the country from abroad.

“We are still looking into this. We haven’t come up with anything. We have never said that this poison, or chemical, was brought in from elsewhere.

“What has been clearly identified these few days is the type of poison or chemical used. But we did not say where it came from. Let the facts be clear,” he added.

Comm Abdul Samah said police are also working closely with the Chemistry Department and Malaysian Nuclear Agency to determine if there would be any radioactive effects on the health of people in areas where the chemicals were found.

He however stressed that the move was more of a precautionary measure since it concerns the well-being of the public.

“Some quarters are concerned that the chemicals could possibly be radioactive and affect the health of people in areas where this poison or liquid was used.

“We are looking into the matter to be really sure … this includes looking into all the places connected to this case.

”Once this is done, we will make an announcement. We want to make it clear to the public if there are indeed any radioactive effects which could affect their health,” he said.

The Star earlier reported that a Hazmat (hazardous materials) team from the KLCC fire station was brought to a condominium in Jalan Klang Lama, where police seized various chemicals, several pairs of gloves and shoes from one of the units in the investigation into Jong-nam’s assassination.

ANN