Mat lajak case: MCA's legal team arrives for Sam's appeal hearing

Wong with MCA's legal team arriving at the Palace of Justice for Sam Ke Ting's appeal hearing on Monday (April 18). - Faihan Ghani/STAR

PUTRAJAYA: A team of lawyers from MCA has arrived at the Palace of Justice here to attend Sam Ke Ting's hearing at the Court of Appeal.

Leading the group was MCA Youth chairman Nicole Wong, who arrived around 9am before the highly anticipated hearing began.

ALSO READ: No excuse to drive recklessly on dimly lit road, says High Court

Wong greeted the press that have been on standby at the lobby of the Palace of Justice since 8am, before making her way with her group into the courtroom.

MCA had said that it would be monitoring the case closely while acknowledging that Sam's family has refused assistance from any political party.

ALSO READ: Over 700,000 sign petitions on behalf of clerk convicted over mat lajak deaths

In a statement on Sunday, MCA Youth said it was ready to provide legal counsel or viewpoints at any time.

"In the interest of justice, it is our hope that Sam is able to raise reasonable doubt on the High Court judgment on her case in the appeal process,” the statement said.

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

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 MCA Legal Bureau had immediately reached out to Sam and her lawyer to offer legal assistance in her appeal.

DAP as well as prominent lawyer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah are among others who have also offered legal assistance to Sam.