Uproar after accused denied bail in Johor bicycle case

 

Opposition lawmakers were up in arms after the Johor Bahru High Court denied Sam Ke Ting's request for a stay of execution pending an appeal.

The High Court ruled that Sam (above), who was convicted today of reckless driving resulting in the death of eight teenagers, must obtain leave from the Court of Appeal first before seeking a stay of execution.

Numerous opposition MPs argued this was unjust as there are precedents that allowed otherwise.

"If (former prime minister) Najib Abdul Razak can get bail roaming around pending appeal, so should Miss Sam," wrote Bayan Baru MP Sim Tze Tzin on Facebook.

Ipoh Timur MP Wong Kah Woh said the High Court decision was shocking because Sam was not a flight risk.

"There was no risk of absconding since the day of the case.

"The decision warrants an immediate review by the appellate court. The appeal will be rendered futile if a stay of execution is rejected," said Wong.

Former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak

Legal aid

Meanwhile, both MCA and DAP have offered Sam legal aid.

MCA legal bureau head Chan Quin Er, a former deputy public prosecutor, said her department would contact Sam's family and offer pro bono services.

A similar pledge was made by Johor DAP deputy chief Teo Nie Ching. Sam is a Johor native and the incident which resulted in her conviction happened in the state.

“We believe this is a case of public importance and will have a long term impact over the rights of road users,” said Teo.

Sam's car struck 30 teen cyclists at 3.30am on Feb 18, 2017 at Jalan Lingkaran Dalam in Johor Bahru.

In 2019, the Magistrate’s Court acquitted Sam after the prosecution failed to prove a prima facie case.

This decision was overturned by the High Court, and the case went back to the Magistrate’s Court with Sam's defence being called.

Last October, at the close of the defence's case, the Magistrate’s Court again acquitted Sam.

That decision was overturned by the High Court today which also sentenced Sam to six years in jail and fined her RM6,000. - Mkini