Contempt of court proceedings involving Parti Warisan president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal in relation to the inquest into the death of Zara Qairina Mahathir have been rescheduled for mention on December 18, Berita Harian reported.
The case, also naming social activist Che Muna Din (Mona Din) as a respondent, was originally set for hearing today before Coroner Amir Shah Amir Hassan.
A court check by the daily revealed that the date was brought forward following a letter from Shafie’s counsel dated November 21, with the court agreeing for both matters to be mentioned on December 18.
On November 4, it was reported that the committal application for contempt proceedings against Shafie and Mona Din had been fixed for hearing today.
According to the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC), the cause papers were served on Shafie in Tawau on the afternoon of November 3, and on Mona Din at her residence in Shah Alam on November 1, following leave granted by the court on October 23.
Both respondents are required to submit their responses under Order 52 Rule 3(2) of the Rules of Court 2012 and file supporting affidavits within 14 days.
On October 23, the court granted leave to initiate contempt action after submissions by Deputy Public Prosecutors Mohamad Mustaffa P. Kunyalan and Nadia Mohd Izhar.
Shafie had allegedly referred to Zara’s death as “murder” during a Warisan event, Jelajah Inspirasi DSSA P187, in Kinabatangan on September 20, and questioned the conduct of the authorities while the inquest was ongoing.
His comments have since drawn strong criticism from lawyers involved in the case, who described them as inflammatory and disrespectful towards the court and the grieving family.
