KUALA LUMPUR, July 28 -- The Kota Kinabalu Sessions Court has sentenced Warisan president and Semporna MP Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal to five weeks in prison for contempt of court over remarks regarding the inquest into the death of 13-year-old Zara Qairina Mahathir.

However, judge Amir Shah Amir Hassan stayed the execution of the sentence, allowing Shafie to remain free pending his appeal against the conviction in the High Court, FMT reported.

In convicting the former Sabah chief minister under Section 99A of the Subordinate Courts Act 1948, Amir ruled that the prosecution had proven its case beyond a reasonable doubt. Under this provision, a conviction can carry a prison term of up to six weeks and a maximum fine of RM300.

The contempt c...