KOTA KINABALU, Sept 11 — A former headmaster was today accused of sending threatening messages to forensic pathologist Dr Jessie Hiu, a key witness in the death inquiry of 13-year-old Zara Qairina Mahathir.
The 61-year-old, Kamul Kamarudin pled not guilty before Sessions Court Judge Marlina Ibrahim, BH Online reported.
He was charged under Section 233(1)(a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, which makes it an offence to make, create, solicit, or initiate communication that is obscene, indecent, false, menacing, or offensive in character, with intent to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass another person.
If found guilty, he can be punished with jail up to one year, a fine up to RM50,000, and if he repeats the same offence, a further fine of RM1,000 for every day the offence continues after conviction.
The penalties are prescribed under Section 233(2) of the same Act.
The charge follows a police report lodged by Dr Hiu on September 5 after she was alerted by her hospital director to threatening posts that circulated online following her two-day testimony in court.
Zara Qairina, 13, died on July 17 at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, a day after being found unconscious in a drain near her school hostel in Papar at 4am.
Her death, following allegations of school bullying, is the subject on an ongoing inquest.
Attorney-General Tan Sri Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar has repeatedly condemned the threats against Dr Hiu, and warned the public that legal action will be taken against those who intimidate the witnesses.
Today’s charge makes Kamul the first person to be charged in relation to the threats made against Dr Hiu.
