They claimed trial before judge Elsie Primus in closed-door proceedings, Bernama reported.

The five, whose identities are being withheld as they are below 18, were charged with uttering abusive words against the victim which could have caused her distress.

They were accused of committing the offence at Block A-3-6 of SMK Agama Tun Datu Mustapha in Limauan, Papar, at around 10pm to 11pm on July 15.

They were charged under Section 507C(1) of the Penal Code which covers harassment and provides for up to a year in jail, a fine or both, upon conviction.

Deputy public prosecutor Nor Azizah Mohamad said the court set Sept 25 for mention of the case and allowed bail of RM5,000 with one surety for each of the teenagers.

Nor Azizah was assisted in the prosecution by Nik Haslinie Hashim and Deepa Nair Thevaharan. Lawyer Ram Singh represented the first accused, while the other four were represented by lawyers Azhier Farhan Arisin, Abdul Fikry Jaafar, Farah Nazriah Chun Lee, Fareez Salleh and Sylyester Kuan.

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.