S'wak businessman Stephen Lee charged with abetment in Kayong's murder

MIRI - Sarawak businessman Datuk Stephen Lee Chee Kiang, classified by the police as the main suspect in the mafia-style killing of land activist Bill Kayong, was charged with abetment in the murder at the Magistrate's court.

Lee arrived in Miri Airport at about 11.15am Wednesday from KLIA under heavy police escort and then taken to the courthouse and produced before magistrate Zuraini Ali Musa.

According to the charge sheet, Lee together with Lie Chang Loon, Chin Wui Chung and another person still at large had on June 21 at the traffic light near E-Mart at Kuala Baram abetted Mohamad Fitri Pauzi in commission of the murder of Bill Kayong.

The offence carries the mandatory death penalty.  No plea was recorded.

The court fixed Dec 30 for mention.

Lee left the country days after Kayong was gunned in Kuala Baram on June 21.

Kayong, also Miri PKR secretary, was actively involved in fighting for native land rights in the state.