Koong Siang Ming finally caught after 6 years on the run for murder of Bill Kayong

The suspect (clad in blue shirt) is escorted to Miri CPS's lockup for further investigation.

Jaythaleela K

MIRI, July 16: One of the men wanted for the murder of Miri Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) secretary Bill Kayong, Koong Siang Ming @ Batu Ming is now in police custody after being on the run for nearly six years.

The 26-year-old suspect was flown in on a Malaysian Police King Air unit today from Kuala Lumpur, touching down in Miri International Airport at around 1.55pm.

According to Miri police chief ACP Hakemal Hawari, the suspect is currently being detained at Miri Central Police station (CPS)’s lockup for further investigation.

The suspect was brought and escorted to Miri CPS’s lockup by a team of Miri Criminal Investigation department (CID) officers upon his arrival at Miri International Airport.

It was believed that the suspect had been hiding in China before the authorities there detained him and deported the suspect back to Malaysia over his expired passport.

Koong had been on the run after police named him as a suspect in the killing of Bill, who was gunned down in his car on June 21, 2016 while stopped at a traffic light intersection in Kuala Baram.

The offence is being investigated under Section 302 of the Penal Code which carries the mandatory death penalty.

A total of four suspects were detained separately at various locations and dates after the shooting, including a ‘Datuk’ and Mohamad Fitri Pauzi, while Koong escaped a police dragnet.

However, three of them were later released and acquitted from the charge of being accomplices in hiring Fitri for the murder.