SHAH ALAM, Malaysia (AP) — Malaysian prosecutors have offered to reduce a murder charge against the Vietnamese woman who is the only suspect in custody for the killing of the estranged half brother of North Korea's leader.

Prosecutor Iskandar Ahmad told the court Monday he received instruction from the attorney general to offer a lower "alternative charge" to Doan Thi Huong.

Huong's lawyer Salim Bashir told reporters the reduced charge was for causing hurt by a dangerous weapon, which carries a maximum of 10 years in jail if convicted.

He said she is likely to plead guilty to that charge. The hearing was halted briefly for Huong to decide whether to accept the offer.

Kim Jong Nam was killed with VX nerve agent at the Kuala Lumpur airport in 2017.