Netizens revisit ‘basikal lajak’ poster after court decision

[superadmin]

Public yearning for transparency in Johor bicycle case

OMG!: What are the facts of the case? What forensic investigations were done by the police? The photo shows an overturned car. Was that Sam Ke Ting’s? If so, she was probably startled and took evasive action, perhaps hitting the curb and somersaulted.

That means Sam’s life was also badly endangered. She might have been permanently disabled or killed. And now she’s jailed for six years? A decision that comes five years after the accident? Good grief! Justice delayed is justice denied.

How is it there being absolutely zero references, in published remarks, about the boys’ contributory negligence? Does all the fault lie on Sam? 100 percent?

How can this be a blindingly clear-cut case when the magistrate (Siti Hajar Ali) differed in her opinion? Surprisingly, hers was diametrically opposite to the esteemed High Court judge’s (Abu Bakar Katar).

Any published reference to the estimated speed of Sam’s car, as could be determined by tyre braking marks? Going by the remarks made, this is like a textbook, crystal-clear case. No nuances at all.

And yet, a staggeringly long time - five years - to dish out a complete difference of opinion between the lower and higher courts. It gives one pause.

With greatest respect to our excellent judiciary, one nevertheless has to ask, what is going on? It is not good that our minds are troubled thus, though other minds apparently are relieved, perhaps even thankful Sam is going to jail.

That won’t bring back the young lives lost. And in addition to the loss of lives, we have a young working woman’s life exposed to risk of terrible injury, even death. Post-accident, she suffered many years in limbo, not knowing her fate. Now, she is being jailed for years, after undergoing all that trauma.

There is a public desire for transparency. There is a desire to be certain this is not a case of retribution. Only public dissemination of facts can achieve this.

VP Biden: The loss of eight young lives (from 14 to 16 years old) is unbearable to the families. At the same time, how can a young person (aged 27) be sentenced to imprisonment for something that is essentially an accident?

As the judge said, “darkness and limited visibility” was present. Shouldn’t the local council be taken to task for not providing a safe driving environment?

The sentence is not justified. All Malaysians need to rise above the racial polemics at play here and raise the actual issue – fair play in our justice system.

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