Mat lajak deaths: Clerk starts appeal process against guilty verdict

JOHOR BARU: Clerk Sam Ke Ting has begun her appeal process against a High Court decision that sentenced her to six years in prison over the deaths of eight teenage cyclists in 2017.

Her lawyer Muhammad Faizal Mokhtar told The Star that a notice of motion and certificate urgency were filed electronically with the Court of Appeal on Thursday (April 14) morning.

ALSO READ: It's jail, no bail for mat lajak deaths

The two applications were to obtain leave to appeal and to stay the execution of Sam’s sentence.

“Thanks for all the support shown to Sam,” Muhammad Faizal said via WhatsApp.

ALSO READ: Petitions in support of Sam gather momentum online

On Wednesday (April 13), Justice Abu Bakar Katar sentenced Sam, 27, to six years' jail, a RM6,000 fine and a three-year driving ban after her prison sentence is over, for reckless driving that resulted in the deaths in Jalan Lingkaran Dalam here at 3.20am on Feb 18, 2017.

She was previously acquitted by a Magistrate’s Court twice.

ALSO READ: Down to the parents to educate children on the dangers of "basikal lajak"

The High Court also ruled that the lower court had erred in accepting her defence statement without her being under oath.

The High Court said not knowing there would be "basikal lajak" activity during the time of the incident could not be used by Sam as an excuse to drive dangerously, resulting in the deaths of the teenagers.

Justice Abu Bakar also ordered that the conviction was to be recorded in her driving licence subsequent to the three-year ban.

ALSO READ: Parents must stop kids from racing on the streets, say experts

The eight teenagers were Mohamad Azrie Danish Zulkefli, 14; Muhamad Shahrul Izzwan Azzuraimie, 14; Muhammad Firdauz Danish Mohd Azhar, 16; Fauzan Halmijan, 13; Mohamad Azhar Amir, 16; Muhammad Harith Iskandar Abdullah, 14; Muhammad Shahrul Nizam Marudin, 14; and Haizad Kasrin, 16.