KUALA LUMPUR: The next-of-kin of assassinated North Korean Kim Jong-nam have yet to come forward to assist Malaysian authorities in identifying the victim.
This was confirmed by Health Director-General Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah, who added that authorities will seek other modes of identification if the next-of-kin fail to show up within 14 days after the post-mortem result is obtained.
"Other ways of identifying the body include (using) dental records to match the victim and external examination (of distinctive marks) like scars, moles and previous surgeries," he said at a press conference at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital (HKL) today.
When asked on North Korea's claim that the victim died of a heart attack, Dr Noor Hisham dismissed it, saying there was no evidence for such a claim.
"There was also nothing obvious (on the body), such as marks, scars or wounds," he said.
On the post-mortem examination itself, Dr Noor Hisham said it was carried out at 12.45pm on Feb 15 and completed at 6.45pm on the same day.
It was conducted in accordance with Section 331 of Malaysia's Criminal Procedure Code, in the presence of the investigating police officer.
Dr Noor Hisham also confirmed that only one autopsy was performed on the deceased, and not two as has been reported.
"The medicolegal specimens were handed over to the investigating police officer immediately after the post-mortem examination, to be sent to accredited laboratories for analyses.
"These analyses are meant to confirm the identity of the deceased, and also, the cause of death; both of which are still pending at the moment," Dr Noor Hisham added.
On Feb 13, Jong-nam, the half-brother of North Korean ruler Kim Jong-un, is believed to have been murdered at klia2.