A 51-year-old man has been arrested by police over a TikTok video which allegedly contains false statements regarding investigations into the death of Form 1 student Zara Qairina Mahathir.
Bukit Aman criminal investigation department director M Kumar said the video – which is more than two minutes long – involved a conversation regarding the findings of the autopsy on Zara.
“Preliminary checks found that the video contained false statements regarding investigations into Zara’s case because it described her death as being a premeditated murder,” he said in a statement.
Kumar said the man was arrested at 10.20pm yesterday, and that a handphone believed to have been used in the case had been confiscated.
The suspect is under remand until Thursday.
He is being probed for sedition, improper use of network facilities and making statements with the intention of causing, or that may lead to, public alarm.
Kumar warned the public against spreading rumours or manipulated facts concerning Zara’s death, pointing out that an inquest was set to be held.
He also advised the public to verify the information they came across on social media.
Zara was found unconscious at 4am on July 16 after allegedly falling from the third floor of her school’s hostel in Papar, Sabah. She died at Queen Elizabeth I Hospital in Kota Kinabalu the following day.
Her body was exhumed on Aug 9 to allow for a post-mortem amid allegations of bullying.
Five minors are set to be charged tomorrow over the alleged bullying.
