Man arrested for spreading defamatory video on Zara Qairina case, revealing child's identity

A 36-YEAR-OLD local man has been arrested in connection with a defamatory video circulated on Facebook relating to the death of Zara Qairina Mahathir, which also allegedly revealed the identity of a child and misused online platforms.

Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Jauteh Dikun said the arrest followed a public complaint lodged on 13 September, after a video began circulating online containing alleged false claims about the case.

“Not only did the video include elements of defamation, but it also revealed the identity of a minor and constituted improper use of network facilities,” he said in a statement on Tuesday.

The suspect was detained on 16 September at approximately 5.40pm in Kota Kinabalu, and two mobile phones were seized during the operation.

The case is being investigated under Section 203A of the Penal Code for disclosure of information, Section 500 of the Penal Code for defamation, Section 15 of the Child Act 2001, and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.

Datuk Jauteh urged the public to act responsibly when using social media, especially in cases involving sensitive or ongoing investigations.

“The police urge all users to be responsible and exercise discretion before sharing or uploading any content that could threaten public order,” he said.

“PDRM takes a serious view of any misuse of social media platforms and will not hesitate to take firm action against individuals who circulate defamatory, offensive or provocative content,” he added. - September 17, 2025