KUALA LUMPUR: Five teenagers will be charged tomorrow in connection with the bullying case of Form One student Zara Qairina Mahathir, Attorney General Tan Sri Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar confirmed.
He said the teenagers will be brought before the Kota Kinabalu Juvenile Court.
“Those who will be charged are under the age of 18,” he said, Bernama reported.
Mohd Dusuki said the teenagers involved will be charged under Section 507C(1) of the Penal Code, relating to the offence of using or making threatening, abusive or insulting words or communication.
Earlier, the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) said in a statement that it had examined investigation papers into Zara Qairina’s death referred by the police and decided to charge several suspects based on available evidence.
The AGC said the decision to charge the suspects for bullying offence will not affect ongoing police investigation and the inquest proceedings to be conducted in court.
On Aug 12, the AGC decided to hold an inquest to determine the cause and circumstances of the death Zara Qairina, a SMKA Tun Datu Mustapha student.
The 13-year-old died at Hospital Queen Elizabeth on July 17, after being found unconscious in a drain near the school dormitory in Papar on the morning of July 16.
Meanwhile in Kota Kinabalu, the inquest into the death of Zara Qairina has been set to begin on Sept 3, with her mother, Noraidah Lamat, expected to be one of the witnesses.
The dates for the inquest are Sept 3 and 4, Sept 8 to 12, Sept 17 to 19 and Sept 22 to 30.
Coroner Azreena Aziz approved the inquest dates following applications submitted by the conducting officers yesterday.
The court was told that 195 people have been interviewed by the investigating team, but not all will testify.
The AGC will decide the final number before Sept 3.
