Kota Kinabalu: Five teenagers currently on trial over using insulting words towards Zara Qairina Mahathir and a witness have lodged a police report believed to be related with witness tempering in the case.
Counsel Azhier Farhan Arisin and his team who represented four of the accused and counsel Datuk Ram Singh and his team for the other one accused, had told the media on the matter during a press conference on Thursday.
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They confirmed the five reports lodged by the child offenders’ parents and guardians over the alleged witness tempering by the prosecution team.
Azhier and Ram had told the media, the witness in the ongoing trial, also lodged a police report pertaining the same matter on the same day and she was accompanied by her mother.
They said their clients, together with the student concerned, lodged the police reports separately on Wednesday at the Karamunsing police station.
According to the team counsels, the reports were made over actions allegedly taken by the prosecution team during the ongoing proceedings.
They said the actions were believed to be prejudicial and could affect the fairness of the case.
However, they declined to elaborate further on the allegations as the ongoing trial held in the Court for Children is subject to a gag order imposed by the court.
Ram said the trial would resume on Jan 19 next year, and that further directions would be given.
“Police reports lodged by the parents of our clients concerning developments in the case have been recorded, and investigations are ongoing,” said Ram.
Counsel Joan Goh, who together with Ram represents the first child accused, said they had also received contempt proceedings against the relevant parties and would proceed with the matter soon.
Meanwhile, Azhier told the media that their clients had urged the authorities to conduct an investigation into allegations that a witness was tampered with by the prosecution, as stated in a police report lodged by the witness’ mother.
“The police have contacted us to record statements from the complainant. In her police report, the witness’s mother alleged that the witness was forced to change her statement at the Court for Children and was also forced not to tell the truth.
“I will not elaborate further on the proceedings of the case, but I wish to state that our clients will give their full cooperation in the investigation into the alleged witness tampering,” said Azhier.
Azhier also told the media that their clients would file a complaint with Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) regarding their right to a fair trial, which they alleged had been violated by the prosecution in the Court for Children.
The five teenagers are accused of using insulting words that were heard and caused Zara to feel disturbed.
The offence allegedly took place between 10pm and 11pm on July 15 this year.
