The trial of a teacher accused of spreading false claims about Zara Qairina’s death will resume in June, with more witnesses set to testify
SEPANG: The Magistrate’s Court here today set June 11 and 12 for the continuation of a school teacher’s trial.
Siti Hajar Aflah Sharuddin, 40, is charged with causing public alarm by claiming Zara Qairina Mahathir was put in a washing machine.
Magistrate Suriani Ujang fixed the dates for the first day of trial proceedings. Several more witnesses are expected to give their statements.
Deputy public prosecutors Christopher Enteri and Nadia Mohd Izhar conducted the prosecution.
Lawyer Mohamad Zaiful Bahrin Kamde, representing the accused, requested the prosecution disclose the number of witnesses to facilitate proceedings.
The first witness, Inspector Wong Yew Zhung, testified that the teacher’s statement was allegedly false and interfered with the investigation. Wong is the investigating officer for the Zara Qairina case.
The police officer told the court he lodged a report at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport Police Station on August 6, 2025.
This was after seeing two video posts on TikTok related to Zara Qairina’s death, which is under investigation.
Siti Hajar Aflah pleaded not guilty to the charge at the Sepang Magistrate’s Court on August 21 last year.
The woman was charged with making a statement likely to cause public alarm on her TikTok account “SHA_Abrienda” at 1.20 pm on August 6, 2025.
The charge was brought under Section 505(b) of the Penal Code. If convicted, she faces a maximum imprisonment of two years, a fine, or both.
Zara Qairina, a Form 1 student, was found unconscious near her school dormitory drain on July 16 last year.
She was confirmed dead a day after being admitted to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Kota Kinabalu.
Claims that she died after being put in a washing machine went viral on social media.
This caused public concern and emotional stress to her family, while also disrupting the police investigation.
