Court dismisses former student’s negligence and defamation claim against school

In a ruling by Judge Yusrin Faidz Yusoff, the appeal filed by former student Nur Nabilah Ahmad Zambala was dismissed. Although the school’s examination of her mobile phone went beyond the powers granted under examination regulations, the court found that this procedural irregularity did not amount to legal negligence. The prosecution’s evidence showing notes and answer schemes that corresponded with answer scripts was accepted, but the claim that a label on the phone’s envelope was defamatory was rejected as it was not defamatory in context.

The judge highlighted that the school failed to report a leak of a confidential trial paper to the education authorities. Zambala was ordered to cover RM5,000 in appeal costs in addition to the RM10,000 awarded by the lower court. Counsel for the school and the federal government represented the defending side.