AGC to charge 5 teens in Zara case

AGC to charge 5 teens in Zara case


Published: Aug 18, 2025 3:12 PM
Updated: 8:32 PM


Summary

• Attorney-General Dusuki Mokhtar confirms that five minors will be charged in the Kota Kinabalu Juvenile Court tomorrow for allegedly bullying Form One student Zara Qairina Mahathir.

• The Coroner's Court, meanwhile, has set Sept 3 to commence inquest proceedings into Zara’s death, with the investigation continuing separately from the bullying charge.

Attorney-General Dusuki Mokhtar said that five teens will be charged in the Kota Kinabalu Juvenile Court on Wednesday (Aug 20), for allegedly bullying Form One student Zara Qairina Mahathir.

“Yes, all of those who will be charged are under the age of 18,” he reportedly told Bernama today.

Dusuki reportedly said that the teenagers involved will be charged under Section 507C(1) of the Penal Code, relating to the offence of using or making any threatening, abusive, or insulting words or communication.

Earlier, the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) announced that it would be charging several suspects allegedly involved in the case.

In a statement today, the department said the charges will be based on evidence from the police investigation, adding that this would not disrupt the inquest, which is set to examine the teenager’s death.

“The decision to charge suspects for the said bullying offence was made considering that such charges would not disrupt the inquest proceedings, which will be ongoing.

“The department stresses that whilst the decision to charge the suspects for the bullying offence has been made, the decision however, will not affect ongoing investigations that are still being conducted by the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), in relation to Zara Qairina’s death, including inquest proceedings that will be conducted in court,” the statement read.

Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail told the Parliament today that the investigation paper on the death of the Form One student was handed to the AGC this morning.

Speaking during a minister’s briefing in the Dewan Rakyat, Saifuddin said the updated papers were submitted based on findings of a special task force from Bukit Aman, which had taken over the probe last week.

Zara Qairina Mahathir


He added that 21 probes have also been opened on alleged attempts to incite unrest over Zara’s death.

Earlier, the Coroner’s Court set Sept 3 to commence inquest proceedings into the child’s death.

Coroner Azreena Aziz today scheduled the proceedings to run from Sept 3 to 4, Sept 8 to 12, Sept 17 to 19, and Sept 22 to 30.

Zara was pronounced dead at Queen Elizabeth Hospital I on July 17.

She had been admitted to the hospital after being found unconscious in a drain near the dormitory of SMKA Tun Datu Mustapha in Papar at 4am on July 16.

Police initially classified the case as “sudden death” and skipped a post-mortem after her mother signed a consent letter declining it, which is now under scrutiny for breaching police protocol.

Several rallies have taken place since the incident, demanding justice for her death, in which foul play is suspected. On Saturday, about 5,000 people attended the latest “Justice for Zara” solidarity rally in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.

The gathering marked the 12th consecutive day on which 14 rallies have been held across Sabah over the last two weeks.