The boys, dressed in white shirts and pants, appeared calm when the charges were read to them before Justice Azman Abdullah.
Deputy public prosecutors Othman Abdullah and Norakmal Farhan Aziz had earlier raised a preliminary objection against legal firm Gobind Singh Deo & Co representing the 17-year-old boys.
Norakmal said the firm had previously represented two other boys who were implicated in the tahfiz fire, in a drug case at the Magistrate’s Court.
“The two boys are potential witnesses in the trial. The firm would have access to their testimonies on the case,” he said.
Lawyer Michelle Ng, who appeared for the boys on behalf of the legal firm, said she had to seek further instructions from her superior and the boys’ parents.
Justice Azman fixed Feb 19 for mention.
He also warned reporters not to reveal the boys’ identities and background.
“It is an offence under the Child Act to publish names of children allegedly involved in crime,” he said.
The teenagers were slapped with 23 murder charges last year at the Magistrate’s Court here over the Darul Quran Ittifaqiyah tahfiz school fire on Sept 14, 2017.
The fire, which authorities claim was caused by arson, killed 21 students and two teachers of the school located on Jalan Keramat Ujung here.
It was reported that seven suspects were detained on Sept 15 during the police investigation, but Deputy Inspector-General of Police Noor Rashid Ibrahim said not all of them were directly involved in the alleged arson.
Then-Kuala Lumpur police chief Amar Singh said only two of the seven boys would be charged with murder.
Boys held over tahfiz fire freed after serving 2 months on drugs charge
2 boys slapped with 23 counts of murder over tahfiz school fire