Warisan president and Semporna MP Shafie Apdal said his pursuit of justice in the case of Zara Qairina Mahathir would continue, hours after he was sentenced to five weeks’ imprisonment for contempt of court over remarks related to the teenager’s death.
In a statement, Shafie stressed that the case had never been about him, but about a young girl whose death had deeply affected people across the country.
“From the very beginning, I only wanted the truth and justice to be upheld, and to ensure the public remained confident in the country’s institutions,” he said.
Shafie added that standing up for justice was a responsibility entrusted to him by the people.
“And I will continue to carry out this responsibility,” he said.
Court grants stay pending appeal
Earlier on Tuesday, the Papar Sessions Court sentenced Shafie to five weeks in prison after finding him guilty under Section 99A of the Subordinate Courts Act 1948 for contempt of court.
However, Sessions Court judge Amir Shah Amir Hassan granted a stay of execution of the sentence pending Shafie’s appeal to the High Court.
Remarks made during ongoing inquest
The charge stemmed from remarks Shafie made at an event in Kinabatangan in September last year, where he reportedly described Zara’s death as “murder” and questioned the authorities’ handling of the case while the inquest was still in progress before the same judge.
On Oct 23 last year, the Attorney General obtained leave to initiate contempt proceedings against Shafie.
Inquest into Zara’s death continues
Zara, 13, died at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Kota Kinabalu on July 17 last year, one day after she was found unconscious in a drain near her school dormitory in Papar.
The inquest into her death is still ongoing.
