'Datuk' charged with Bill Kayong's murder

A 45-year-old 'Datuk' was charged in the Magistrate's Court here today with abatement in the murder of PKR Secretary Bill Kayong.

Datuk Stephen Lee Chee Kiang allegedly committed the offence with three others at a traffic light intersection near E-Mart Supermarket in Jalan Kuala Baram bypass around 8.20am on June 21, 2016.

The charge under Section 109 of the Penal Code read together with Section 302 of the Penal code carries the mandatory death sentence on conviction.

No plea was recorded from the accused who nodded to indicate he understood the charge when it was read to him in Chinese at the dock before magistrate Zuraini Ali Musa.

The magistrate fixed Dec 30 for re-mention after deputy public prosecutor Noor Fadzila Ishak told the court that the prosecution was awaiting consent from the Attorney-General's Chambers to transfer the case to the High Court.

On Nov 25, Lee's personal assistant Chin Wui Ching, 50, and pub owner Lie Chang Loon, 37, claimed trial in the Miri High Court to abetting bouncer Mohamad Fitri Pauzi, 29, in murdering Bill, whose Muslim name was Mohd Hasbie Abdullah.

They allegedly committed the offence at the same place, time and date, under Section 109 read together with Section 302 of the Penal Code.

First accused Mohamad Fitri also pleaded not guilty on Nov 25 to killing Bill at the same place, time and date, as charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code which carries the mandatory death sentence.

The court has fixed nine days for trial beginning Jan 3, 2017.