Kota Kinabalu: A total of 33 documents had been served on counsel of five teenagers charged at the Children's Court with using insulting words towards Zara Qairina Mahathir.
Sabah Court Officer Cindy Mc Juce Balitus said the prosecution served 15 documents on the first alleged child offender and 18 documents each on the alleged second, third, fourth and fifth child offenders, pursuant to Section 51A of the Criminal Procedure Code.
The documents, which will be used during trial, were served on the counsel during the pre-trial case management, Thursday, before Sessions Court Judge Elsie Primus.
Cindy also stated in a brief report that the prosecution will serve five additional documents during the further pre-trial case management on Oct 16.
Cindy further stated that the application by the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) for leave to appear as a watching brief was granted, pursuant to Section 12(3)(c) of the Child Act 2001.
The teenagers are accused of using the insulting words which were heard and caused Zara to feel disturbed.
The offence allegedly took place between 10pm and 11pm on July 15, this year.
They were jointly charged under Section 507C(1)/34 of the Penal Code, which relates to the offence of using or making any threatening, abusive or insulting words, or communication, where a person is likely to feel harassed, distressed, feared or alarmed.
It provides for a jail term of up to one year, or fine, or both, on conviction.
Cindy also stated that the trial date on Dec 9-20, which had been fixed in the previous proceedings, will proceed as scheduled.
The five girls were released on bail.
Deputy Public Prosecutors Nor Azizah Mohamad, Nik Haslinie Hashim and Deepa Nair Thevaharan appeared for the prosecution.
Counsel Datuk Ram Singh together with counsel Joan Goh and Elmer Prem Gunasan represented one of the teenagers.
Counsel Azhier Farhan Arisin, Abdul Fikry Jaafar, Fareez Salleh and Sylyester Kuan represented the other teenagers.
The late Zara's mother Noraidah Lamat was represented by counsel Shahlan Jufri, Rizwandean M Borhan, Mohd Sharulnizam Mohd Salleh, Luqman Syazwan Zabidi and Farrah Nasser.
Sabah Law Society appears as a watching brief in the case.
The proceedings are subjected to a gag order under Section 15 of the Child Act which was applied by Ram in the previous proceedings.