SHAH ALAM, Aug 13 — The High Court today ordered a 15-year-old boy to enter his defence on a charge of murdering a female student at a secondary school in Bandar Utama, Petaling Jaya, last year.

Judge Adlin Abdul Majid issued the order after finding that the prosecution had successfully established a prima facie case against the teenager.

Lawyer Kitson Foong, representing the accused, confirmed the court order to reporters after this morning’s proceedings.

The boy is accused of murdering the victim, who was 16 at the time, in the female students’ toilet at a national secondary school in Bandar Utama between 9.20am and 9.35am on Oct 14, 2025.

The charge was brought under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which carries the death penalty.

However, under Section 97(1) of the Child Act 2001, the death penalty cannot be imposed on offenders under 18 if convicted.

Instead, under Section 97(2) of the same Act, the court may order the offender to be detained for a period determined by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the Sultan, or the Yang di-Pertua Negeri.

So far, the prosecution has called three students, teachers, the victim’s mother, a pathologist and a senior investigating officer as witnesses.

The prosecution was conducted by deputy public prosecutors Raja Zaizul Faridah Raja Zaharudin, Aqharie Durranie Aziz and Ahmad Iqbal Aziz.

As the accused is still a minor and his identity cannot be disclosed, the entire proceedings were held in camera.

On Feb 12, the teenager pleaded not guilty after the charge was re-read to him in Mandarin before Judge Adlin.

On Jan 30, the prosecution obtained the Attorney General’s Chambers’ consent under Section 177A of the Criminal Procedure Code to transfer the case from the Petaling Jaya Magistrate’s Court to the Shah Alam High Court, after a psychiatric evaluation confirmed that the teenager was fit to stand trial.

On Oct 22, 2025, the teenager was charged in the Petaling Jaya Magistrate’s Court with the murder of his schoolmate, between 9.20am and 9.35am on Oct 14, 2025.

No plea was recorded at the time, however, as murder cases fall within the High Court’s jurisdiction.

The proceedings are ongoing. — Bernama