KUALA LUMPUR – A second autopsy was not performed on the body of Kim Jong-nam, says Health Director-General Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.
He said the analysis on the post-mortem examination to confirm the identity of the deceased and the cause of death was still pending.
He added that Kim’s body was managed respectfully and medical specimens taken were handled as provided by law to maintain the chain of custody.
This is his statement in full:
The National Institute of Forensic Medicine Kuala Lumpur Hospital received a dead body of a North Korean National from the Investigating Police Officer for post-mortem examination on 15th February 2017 at 10.00 AM.
The post-mortem examination was carried out at 12.45 PM on 15th February 2017 and completed at 6.45 PM on the same day, in accordance with Section 331 of Malaysia’s Criminal Procedure Code. The Investigating Police Officer was present throughout the post-mortem examination.
The team involved in the post-mortem examination of the deceased person comprised of qualified and experienced Consultant Forensic Pathologists, Forensic Radiologist and Forensic Odontologist.
The body underwent a full post-mortem Computed Tomography, external and internal post-mortem examination and Forensic Dental examination; all of which were conducted professionally in the same premise and with compliance to International Standards.
The management of the body was done in a respectful way and medicolegal specimens taken were handled according to the provisions of the law to maintain the chain of custody.
The medicolegal specimens were handed over to the Investigating Police Officer immediately after the post-mortem examination to be sent to accredited laboratories for analysis. These analyses are meant to confirm the identity of the deceased person and also the cause of death; both of which are still pending at the moment. There has been no second autopsy performed on this deceased person.
Thank you.
DATUK DR. NOOR HISHAM ABDULLAH
DIRECTOR GENERAL OF HEALTH MALAYSIA
21st February 2017
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