Shafee, who emphasised that this should not be turned into a racial or religious issue, said she should have been given a stay of execution in the first place.
“I was wondering why she was not given a stay of conviction pending her appeal.
“I hope she is bailed out as soon as possible as she has already begun serving her six-year jail sentence. If she is given bail, she has a better prospect of preparing her appeal with her lawyers,” he told FMT.
Others who have offered to provide free legal assistance to Sam include DAP’s national legal bureau and MCA’s legal affairs bureau, among others.
Meanwhile, Sam’s application to the Court of Appeal for leave to appeal against the High Court’s decision has been set for 9am on Monday at the Court of Appeal in Putrajaya.
Shafie, confirming a report in The Star earlier, said he has offered to be Sam’s lawyer as he felt strongly that she needs to be defended under the circumstances.
“I can confirm that I have offered my services pro bono to Sam. I feel that justice is all that matters.
“Hopefully, I can represent her if she appoints me as her lawyer or will appear as amicus curiae, depending on how the situation develops,” he told FMT.
Amicus curiae is a person or group, who is not a party to an action but has a strong interest in the matter, appearing as “a friend of the court” with its permission.
Shafee said his message was purely to bring about justice, adding that this had nothing to do with race or religion, referring to the many who had tried to “racialise” the issue.
On Wednesday, Sam was sentenced to six years’ jail and fined RM6,000 by the High Court in Johor Bahru for reckless driving.
The clerk, who had been charged with causing the death of eight cyclists at Jalan Lingkaran Dalam in Johor Bahru at 3.20am on Feb 18, 2017, was acquitted and discharged by the magistrates’ court on Oct 28, 2019 at the end of the prosecution’s case without her defence being called.
However, on Feb 18, 2021, the Johor Bahru High Court sent the case back to the magistrates’ court asking Sam to enter her defence after allowing an appeal by the prosecution.
On Oct 10, 2021, the magistrates’ court again acquitted and discharged her.
The prosecution then appealed again to the High Court.