Astro Awani
& Bernama
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The lawyer said that he is willing to tender his service pro bono to the 27-year-old because he strongly feels that the woman should be defended, according to a report in The Star today, 16 April.
“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,” The Star quoted him as saying.
70-year-old Shafee has infamously defended former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak, who has been charged and convicted in criminal cases related to the 1MDB corruption scandal.
“Bail must be given immediately,” he said, adding that he hoped to deliver a message about justice, with nothing to do about the race or religion of the woman and the eight deceased teenagers.
“I really hope that she will be bailed out as she has begun to serve her six years in jail. If bail is granted she has a better prospect of preparing her appeal with her lawyers,” he was quoted as saying.
Sam, who worked as a clerk, was found guilty under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 (Act 333) for causing death by reckless driving when she rammed into a group of teens riding modified bicycles (‘basikal lajak’) on Jalan Lingkaran Dalam, Johor Bahru at 3.30am, 18 February 2017.
Judge Abu Bakar Katar sentenced her to six years in jail and slapped a fine of RM6,000.
He disqualified her from driving for three years, effective immediately after she completes her prison sentence, and also ordered her to serve another six months in prison if she failed to pay the fine.
The Johor Bahru High Court also rejected the defence’s application for a stay of execution and sent Sam straight to prison. He ordered her to secure leave to appeal from the Court of Appeal first.
Following which, Sam’s lawyer, Muhammad Faizal Mokhtar, filed an appeal against the High Court’s conviction, which has since been granted. Her appeal is set to be heard at 9am on Monday, 18 April.
Prior to her conviction, she was acquitted twice at the Magistrate’s Court.
The first time Sam was acquitted was in October 2019. She was ordered to enter defence by the Johor Bahru High Court in February 2021. The Magistrates’ Court then acquitted her again in October last year.
This led Attorney General (AG) Tan Sri Idrus Harun to instruct the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) to file an appeal against the 27-year-old acquittal last year.
Reacting to the comparisons, the former prime minister took to his Facebook page to defend himself.
Najib accused DAP and Pakatan Harapan (PH) of instigating the public against him after Sam was not granted a stay of execution and was sent to prison immediately while he is still a free man despite his corruption conviction by both the High Court and Court of Appeal over the SRC International case.