KUALA LUMPUR, July 6 — Sarawak police believe they know the motive for the shooting of PKR politician and activist Bill Kayong, but will only reveal the information when the case is taken to court.

State police chief Datuk Mazlan Mansor said they are looking at a possible mastermind behind the June 21 murder of Kayong, but stressed that investigations into the murder case is still ongoing, The Borneo Post reported.

"I do not intend to reveal our findings, such as the motive of the murder, which can adversely affect the case prior to the suspects being charged in court. Let the case reach the court first,” he was quoted as saying.

The police arrested six people in connection to the crime on July 1 and have also recovered the suspected murder weapon, a shotgun with several bullets and a spent casing from a house in Miri yesterday.

Kayong, 43, was gunned down in his car when he stopped at a traffic lights near a mall in his Miri hometown two weeks ago.

The father of two was known for championing native rights, especially the protection of customary lands from being cleared for timber and developed for oil palm plantations. Several Dayak groups believe his killing may be related to his social activism.