- Title: Vietnamese family believe their loved one held over N.Korean murder
- Date: 21st February 2017
- Summary: NAM DINH PROVINCE, VIETNAM (FEBRUARY 21, 2017) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF DOAN VAN THANH, VIETNAMESE MAN WHO BELIEVES HE IS FATHER OF SUSPECT, OPENING GATE OF HOME THANH'S FRONT YARD VARIOUS OF THANH PREPARING TEA AT HOME (SOUNDBITE) (Vietnamese) VIETNAMESE MAN WHO BELIEVES HE IS FATHER OF SUSPECT, DOAN VAN THANH, SAYING: "The authorities have come, both provincial and local pol
- Embargoed: 7th March 2017 12:12
- Keywords: Vietnam North Korea suspect Kim Jong Nam
- Location: NAM DINH PROVINCE, VIETNAM
- City: NAM DINH PROVINCE, VIETNAM
- Country: Vietnam
- Topics: Crime/Law/Justice,Crime
- Reuters ID: LVA00164GR29Z
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: A Vietnamese man said he believes his sister is one of the suspects arrested in Malaysia in connection with the murder of the half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
Kim Jong Nam was assaulted last Monday at Kuala Lumpur International Airport with what was thought to be a fast-acting poison. Malaysian police have said that among those arrested was a woman with a Vietnamese travel document.
Vietnamese authorities have said only that they are investigating and are in touch with Malaysia. Local police in Nam Dinh told Reuters that they went to investigate if such a person had lived in the area.
Doan Van Binh confirmed that his sister's name was Doan Thi Huong and that she was born in 1988 in Nam Dinh province, southeast of the capital Hanoi. Those details are the same as those released by Malaysian police.
Doan Thi Huong's father, Doan Van Thanh, a Vietnam war veteran who now works as a rice farmer in his hometown, says authorities have not confirmed she is a suspect.
"The authorities have come, both provincial and local police, but they only say they will support Huong as she is Vietnamese but did not tell me if she is really a suspect. Nothing is certain right now," he said, adding that he was very worried.
A neighbour, who withheld his name, said he could not identify her from the photos but if it was her, she was a nice person.
Doan van Binh said the whole family was upset.
"No one understands why such an unusual thing had happened," said in Nam Dinh.
Doan Van Binh said his sister appeared to be the woman whose image was captured in a grainy airport CCTV image wearing a white shirt with the acronym 'LOL' on it. He said Vietnamese authorities had been in touch and had been supportive.
He said his sister had left home when she was 18 and only came home occasionally and without letting anyone know when she would be back.
South Korean and U.S. officials have said Kim Jong Nam was assassinated by North Korean agents.
Malaysian police have said that four North Korean suspects in the murder fled Malaysia on the day of the killing.
Malaysian police arrested a North Korean man on Friday (February 17) in connection to the murder, while a Vietnamese woman and an Indonesian woman have also been arrested. A Malaysian man is being detained to facilitate the investigation. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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