{
  "id": 14929133,
  "title": "Prosecution closes case against five teenagers in Zara Qairina case",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/16/prosecution-closes-case-against-five-teenagers-in-zara-qairina-case",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-16T10:07:32.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/news/regional/2026/10/1556912/prosecution-closes-case-against-five-teenagers-zara-qairina-case"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Kota Kinabalu: The prosecution has concluded its case against five teenage girls accused of using insulting words against Zara Qairina Mahathir. Joan Goh, representing one of the defendants, informed the Court for Children that written submissions are due on November 16, replies on November 30, and a clarification is slated for December 4. Following this, the court will determine if the prosecution has proven a prima facie case. Over 20 witnesses testified during the trial, though not all of the child witnesses who testified at Zara Qairina's inquest into her death were present. Notably, Zara's mother was absent from the trial proceedings. The five teenagers, identified only as Students A, B, C, D, and E due to their minor status, were charged on August 20, 2025, under Section 507C(1) of the Penal Code for using insulting words against the 13-year-old Zara, causing her distress. The alleged incident occurred between 10pm and 11pm on July 15, 2025. All five defendants pleaded not guilty, facing a potential maximum penalty of one year in prison, a fine, or both upon conviction. Zara was discovered unconscious on the ground floor of her school hostel on July 16, 2025, and died at Queen Elizabeth Hospital the following day. Goh, along with lawyers Ram Singh and Elmer Prem Gunasan, represented one of the teenagers, while the other four were represented by Azhier Farhan Arisin, Abdul Fikry Jaafar, Mohammed Fareez Mohammed Salleh, and Sylyester Kuan, all of whom provided pro-bono legal services.",
  "summary": "KOTA KINABALU: The prosecution has closed its case against five teenage girls who were charged with using insulting words against Zara Qairina Mahathir.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 5,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Court sets Jan 15 for Zara Qairina inquest verdict",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/16/court-sets-jan-15-for-zara-qairina-inquest-verdict",
        "published": "2026-10-16T02:22:09.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Court to decide on inquest into Zara’s death on Jan 15",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/16/court-to-decide-on-inquest-into-zaras-death-on-jan-15",
        "published": "2026-10-16T02:45:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "Coroner’s Court sets Jan 15, 2027 for verdict in Zara Qairina inquest",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/16/coroners-court-sets-jan-15-2027-for-verdict-in-zara-qairina-inquest",
        "published": "2026-10-16T03:42:15.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Vibes",
        "title": "Zara Qairina inquest verdict set for Jan 15",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/16/zara-qairina-inquest-verdict-set-for-jan-15",
        "published": "2026-10-16T06:04:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}