Malaysia releases Indonesian woman after dropping charges on murdering DPRK man

SHAH ALAM, Malaysia - Malaysia released Siti Aisyah, an Indonesian woman on Monday after prosecutors withdrew the murder charge against her for the death of a man from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) at a Malaysian airport in 2017.

Aisyah has been charged alongside Vietnamese national Doan Thi Huong of killing the DPRK man by smearing VX nerve agent on the man's face at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in February 2017.

In his request to withdraw the charge at a court in Shah Alam, the public prosecutor did not give a reason for the move in court and said she was free to leave the country.

The judge then ordered Aisyah's release without an acquittal.

Indonesian Ambassador to Malaysia Rusdi Kirana told reporters "We are pleased with the court decision. We will try to fly Siti back to Indonesia today or as soon as possible."

Aisyah's lawyer Gooi Soon Seng said he was grateful the prosecution had come to the conclusion, as his team had repeatedly stated that there was only minor circumstantial evidence linking her to the case.

Gooi added that the trial for Doan would continue as the prosecution had not indicated anything on her status.