Three men, including a prominent Sarawakian businessman, have been freed by the Miri High Court today after prosecutors failed to build a prima facie case against them for abetting the murder of social activists Bill Kayong last year.

Stephen Lee Chee Kiang, 46, Chin Wui Ching, 51, and Lie Chang Loon, 38, were charged with abetting Mohamad Fitri Pauz, 30. Had the trio been found guilty, the punishment would have been death.

However, the court ordered only Mohamad Fitri to enter his defence. The next hearing will commence on June 14. He was charged for murder and faces the death penalty if convicted.

According to various media reports, Dayak activists, Kayong's supporters and family reacted in outrage following the ruling...