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A LAWYER representing one of the minors, referred to as Student A, in the inquest into the death of 13-year-old Zara Qairina Mahathir has lodged a police report after the personal details of the student witness were leaked online.
Datuk Ram Singh said he discovered today that the witness’s full name, home address and identity card number had been circulated on social media and shared widely through WhatsApp.
He added that a TikTok video had also revealed the names of five children accused in the case.
“This disclosure has caused fear and emotional distress to the student witness.
“When I met the witness and her mother, they were in trauma and crying,” Ram Singh said in his report.
The report was lodged at the Luyang Police station today.
The leak, he said, disrupted proceedings at the Kota Kinabalu Coroner’s Court, where the inquest is being held.
Ram Singh argued the exposure violated child protection and witness confidentiality laws and urged police to investigate the source of the leak and take action.
The disruption forced Coroner Amir Shah Amir Hassan to adjourn the inquest.
The leak had intimidated the young witness and breached the confidentiality of the proceedings.
Proceedings are now expected to resume on Monday, with the student scheduled to testify from a separate room under the Child Act 2001. – September 19, 2025