(From left) Mohamad Fitri, Lie (partly hidden) Chin, Stephen Lee arriving with other accused for different trials at the court house yesterday.
MIRI: Datuk Stephen Lee Chee Kiang (Stephen Lee) – the fourth accused in the murder of social activist, Bill Kayong on June 21, 2016 was not abducted in China and brought back to Sarawak.
This was stated by Investigating Officer, ASP Lee Chee Keat (ASP Lee) in his testimony refuting the allegation of Orlando Chua, counsel for the accused, that China and Malaysia carefully planned and carried out the abduction of Stephen.
Asked why Stephen came back to Malaysia on December 13, 2016, ASP Lee said “as far as I know the passport of the fourth accused has been revoked by the Immigration Department Malaysia” and he pointed out that the accused was not escorted from China to Kuala Lumpur International Airport, KLIA.
ASP Lee however agreed with Orlando that state CID chief Datuk Dev Kumar and two other police officials were in the same flight with Stephen Lee from China to Kuala Lumpur.
“The accused was not handcuffed and came out of the aircraft with other passengers on arrival at KLIA.”
ASP Lee also said as far as he knows there is also no Extradition Treaty between Malaysia and China.
ASP Lee was the 28th and last prosecution witness called to testify yesterday in Bill Kayong murder trial in the High Court here before Judge Ravinthran Paramaguru .
The judge overruled objections by defence counsel Ranbir Singh on witness statement by ASP Lee.
Ravinthran said there is no provision to amend witness statement even though some sections in the statement quoting the first accused, Mohamad Fitri Fauzi were confessionary in nature.
He reiterated that judgement made on the murder trial will not rely solely on such statements but the overall proceedings and findings.
However, he said the counsel can make objections on the words used and make submission.
Yesterday was the eleventh and last day of the trial and Ravinthran set aside three weeks for written submission and fixed May 8, 2017 for both parties to make their oral submissions.
A total of 28 prosecution witnesses testified against Mohamad Fitri who is charged together with three others with the murder of Bill.
The three charged together with Mohamad are Lie Chang Loon, 38; Datuk Stephen Lee Chee Kiang, 46; and Chin Wui Ching, 51.
They are charged with abetment (abetting Mohd Fitri) – an offence punishable under Section 109 read together with Section 302 of the Penal Code, which carry the mandatory death sentence upon conviction.