Zara's mother's lawyer decries slander over photo with CM, minister

Lawyer Shahlan Jufri, who represents the mother of Zara Qairina Mahathir, has hit back at those circulating a photograph of him with prominent Sabah individuals.

The picture showed him with Sabah Chief Minister Hajiji Noor, Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Armizan Ali, and fellow lawyer Ram Singh - who is defending one of the students charged in connection with the case.

Shahlan clarified that the photograph, taken in June, bore no connection to the case of the 13-year-old student whose death has gripped national attention.

Speculation has been rife on social media, with claims that high-profile figures are somehow linked to the case.

Earlier, an aide to Armizan lodged a police report over an allegedly defamatory TikTok video that sought to connect the minister to Zara’s death.

Shahlan called the attempt by certain parties to link the photograph to the case a malicious slander intended to mislead the public.

“I want to stress that my commitment is solely to justice for Zara,” he added in a Facebook post, as reported by the media.

Fulfilling duty to client

The lawyer explained that the crucial legal steps required on behalf of Zara’s mother had already been carried out and were ongoing.

“For the record, the key actions have already been taken since my appointment as Zara’s lawyer - such as the exhumation of the remains, which was successful; the post-mortem, which was completed; and being present in the autopsy room for more than eight hours as requested by my client.

“We have also applied for the perpetrator to face a heavier punishment, up to the maximum of 10 years (jail), and for an inquest to be allowed, which is in progress,” he added.

Shahlan stressed that as counsel, he acts without fear or favour, with the sole aim of upholding justice and the integrity of the law.

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