Kota Kinabalu: Five lawyers representing the family of 13-year-old Zara Qairina Mahathir called on the Attorney General’s Chambers to prosecute individuals alleged to have bullied the schoolgirl, citing fresh evidence disclosed by Bukit Aman.
The lawyers referred to a press conference held on Wednesday by Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department (JSJ) Director Datuk M Kumar regarding Zara’s death.
“Among the key disclosures made by him was that the Special Task Force’s investigation had found evidence pointing towards bullying before the incident involving Zara,” they said.
window.googletag = window.googletag || {cmd: []};googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.defineSlot('/22826383987/dailyexpress_inline', [1, 1], 'gpt-passback').addService(googletag.pubads());googletag.enableServices();googletag.display('gpt-passback');});They are Shahlan Jufri, Rizwandean M Borhan, Mohd Luqman Syazwan Zabidi, Mohd Syarulnizam Mohd Salleh and Farrah Nasser.
“If these accounts can be relied on in court, we propose that the Attorney General charge the individuals named under Section 507D(2) of the Penal Code.
“Under that section, offenders can be punished with imprisonment of up to 10 years, a fine, or both. Once this step is taken, an inquest would no longer be necessary,” they added.
They said if the evidence was not strong or insufficient to form an offence under the same section, further investigation must continue to strengthen the case, with an inquest to be held simultaneously.
The statement also dismissed a so-called “plot twist” circulated on social media in recent weeks suggesting their client was responsible for Zara’s death.
“That ‘plot twist’ is a vile and despicable narrative concocted to defame our client and Zara,” the lawyers said.
They expressed gratitude to Kumar and the Special Task Force for acting swiftly to investigate Zara’s death and urged anyone with information to come forward.
“If you are afraid or need assistance to do so, you can meet with us,” they said.
The lawyers also thanked Malaysians who have supported and prayed in the search for justice for Zara and urged the public to avoid making untrue speculations about her death.