KOTA KINABALU, Oct 16 — The case involving five teenage girls charged with allegedly uttering abusive words against Zara Qairina Mahathir at the Children’s Court has closed, with submissions scheduled for November 16.

Counsel Joan Goh, who represents one of the teenagers, said the court had fixed November 30 for the reply submissions, followed by clarification on December 4 before a date would be set for the ruling on whether a prima facie case had been established.

She said more than 20 witnesses had testified during the hearing, but not all child witnesses testified in the Children’s Court and Zara’s mother had also not taken the stand.

The five girls are jointly charged under Section 507C(1), read with Section 34 of the Penal Code, with allegedly using abusive or insulting words against Zara, which were heard by the victim and could have caused her distress, between 10pm and 11pm on July 15.

The offence carries a jail term of up to one year, a fine, or both upon conviction, while Goh, Datuk Ram Singh and Elmer Prem Gunasan represented one of the teenagers, with the other four represented by Azhier Farhan Arisin, Abdul Fikry Jaafar, Fareez Salleh and Sylyester Kuan, all acting pro bono. — Daily Express