Children’s Court closes case of five teenage girls accused of abusing Zara Qairina, submissions set for Nov 16

Kota Kinabalu, October 16 — The legal proceedings concerning five teenage girls accused of allegedly using abusive language against Zara Qairina Mahathir have concluded, with the next step in the process scheduled for November 16. Counsel Joan Goh, who is representing one of the teenagers, revealed that the court has set November 30 for the opposing side's reply submissions, followed by a clarification session on December 4 before a final ruling on the establishment of a prima facie case could be made.

She mentioned that more than 20 witnesses testified during the hearing; however, not all child witnesses appeared in the Children's Court, and Zara's mother did not testify. The five girls are jointly charged under Section 507C(1) of the law, combined with Section 34 of the Penal Code, for allegedly uttering abusive words against the victim that could have caused her distress between 10pm and 11pm on July 15.

The offense carries a potential jail term of up to one year, a fine, or a combination of both upon conviction. The five girls' legal representatives included Datuk Ram Singh, Elmer Prem Gunasan, and three others acting pro bono: Azhier Farhan Arisin, Abdul Fikry Jaafar, Fareez Salleh, and Sylyester Kuan.