MIRI – A local man linked to the 2016 mafia-style murder of Miri PKR secretary Bill Kayong has been arrested following his deportation from China.
The suspect was flown in to Kuala Lumpur, after which he was handed over to the authorities here today.
The man, in his late 20s, was brought to the Miri central police station this afternoon. He is one of several suspects in the fatal shooting of the native rights activist and politician.
Kayong, who was also press secretary to Miri MP Dr Michael Teo, was shot dead at a traffic-light junction in Kuala Baram, about 20km north of here, on June 21, 2016.
The murder is believed to be over land disputes involving a private developer that he was investigating.
Main suspect Mohd Fitri Pauz, a nightclub bouncer here, was found guilty by the Miri High Court on August 10, 2018. Justice P. Ravinthran sentenced him to death under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder.
A year earlier, on June 6, 2017, three suspected accomplices were discharged and acquitted by the same court without having their defence called. The trio included prominent Sarawak businessman Datuk Stephen Lee.
Today’s arrest comes more than six years since the death of Kayong, who was being groomed as a rising star in the state PKR.
Given his popularity, he was touted as a potential election candidate for the Miri seat.
Miri police chief Hakemal Hawari told reporters in a WhatsApp group chat that the suspect had been hiding in China all these years.
He said Chinese authorities detained the man after his passport was found expired and deported him.
He landed at Kuala Lumpur International Airport, where he was taken under arrest, and arrived at Miri about 2pm.
The suspect is being remanded pending his court appearance. – The Vibes, July 16, 2021
