KOTA KINABALU, Aug 20 — Five teenage girls were charged at the Children’s Court today with using abusive words against Form One student Zara Qairina Mahathir last month.
The charges against the five were read before Sessions Judge Elsie Primus in closed proceedings.
According to the charge sheet, the five, acting with common intention, allegedly uttered abusive words directed at Zara, which were heard by the victim and could have caused her distress.
The offence was allegedly committed at Block A-3-6 of the Rabiatul Adawiyah Dormitory at SMKA Tun Datu Mustapha Limauan W.D.T 15 in Papar, between 10pm and 11pm on July 15.
The charge was framed under Section 507C(1) of the Penal Code, read together with Section 34, which carries a maximum jail term of one year, or a fine, or both upon conviction.
Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Nor Azizah Mohamad told the press outside the court after proceedings that all the students had pleaded not guilty to the charges.
“The court set September 25 for mention of the case and allowed bail of RM5,000 with one surety for each of the teenagers,” said Azizah, who was assisted by DPPs Nik Haslinie Hashim and Deepa Nair Thevaharan.
Lawyer Datuk Ram Singh represented the first accused, while the other four were represented by lawyers Azhier Farhan Arisin, Abdul Fikry Jaafar, Farah Nazriah Chun Lee, Fareez Salleh, and Sylyester Kuan.
Previously, the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) said that it had examined the investigation papers into the student’s death, which were referred by the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), and decided to charge several suspects based on available evidence.
It added that an inquest proceeding still needs to be conducted to determine the actual cause of Zara’s death.
Last Tuesday (August 12), the AGC decided to conduct an inquest to ascertain the cause and circumstances behind the death of the 13-year-old after reviewing the investigation report submitted by PDRM.
On Monday (August 18), the Coroner’s Court set September 3 to commence the inquest proceedings.
Zara died at Queen Elizabeth I Hospital on July 17 after being found unconscious in a drain near the school hostel in the early hours of July 16.
