KUALA LUMPUR: Prominent lawyer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah (pic) has offered to represent Sam Ke Ting, who has been jailed for reckless driving that led to the deaths of eight teenagers.
“I am offering to help this lady pro bono because I feel strongly that she needs to be defended.
“I also feel that her appeal to the Court of Appeal needs to be heard expeditiously.
“I feel that justice must be done here to grant her leave to appeal and, pending appeal, a stay of conviction and sentence must be granted.
“Bail must immediately be given. My volunteering is aimed at delivering a message that this is all about justice, and nothing to do with Sam’s race or religion or the poor eight deceased teenagers,” he said.
Muhammad Shafee expressed his hope that Sam, who began serving her six-year jail sentence on Wednesday, would be bailed out.
“If bail is granted, she can better prepare her appeal with her lawyers,” he added.
On Wednesday, Sam, 27, was sentenced to six years’ jail and fined RM6,000 for the deaths of the teenagers on modified bicycles in Johor Baru at 3.20am on Feb 18, 2017.
High Court judge Justice Abu Bakar Katar, who meted out the sentence, did not grant a stay of execution as requested by Sam’s lawyer Muhammad Faizal Mokhtar.
The Federal Court chief registrar’s office has sent out a press invite to the hearing of the “case of public interest” at the Court of Appeal in Putrajaya at 9am tomorrow.
Sam is expected to apply for a stay of execution pending the appeal against her conviction and sentencing.