Motive behind Bill Kayong’s murder to be revealed in court

Inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar said the motive of PKR leader Bill Kayong’s murder would not be made public until the trial of the accused.

"It is not police's job to tell the motive. Let us be in court and announce it (the motive) at the trial.

"Yes, we already know (the motive). This is because we are the ones who conduct investigation. We know. But I won't respond to this (the call to reveal the motive) until the trial in court," he told the press today at a Hari Raya event at Police Training Centre, Kuala Lumpur.

Earlier, PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar urged the police to ensure that the motive of the murder is unearthed, following the arrest of the alleged murderer.

“We … need to ascertain the motives behind the killing of Bill Kayong – who, along with (Miri MP Dr Michael Teo), were targets of ongoing death threats and intimidation.

“Was his murder linked to the plight of the native customary land (or) illegal logging activities?

“We must not allow the conviction of the murderer to silence the larger motivations of the said heinous act,” she said in a statement yesterday.

While lauding the police on solving the case, Nurul Izzah also urged for a thorough prosecution and for the perpetrator to be punished with the maximum sentence for “robbing Bill's family and the larger Keadilan family of their brother and comrade.”

The penalty for murder under Section 302 of the Penal Code is a mandatory death penalty. - Mkini