Zara Qairina Never Screamed Or Cried Before Meeting Senior Over Theft Case – Witness

KOTA KINABALU, Sept 30 (Bernama) -- A child witness told the Coroner’s Court here today that the late Zara Qairina Mahathir had never screamed or cried before the incident where a senior confronted the Form One student over a theft case at the hostel on July 15.

Lawyer Datuk Ram Singh, representing one of the teenagers involved in the bullying case, said the witness informed the court that Zara Qairina appeared distressed after meeting the senior student and was seen lying on the floor in front of a locker while crying.

Sharing the testimony of the eighth child witness after the inquest proceedings, Ram Singh said the witness also stated that Zara Qairina shouted while denying she had stolen anything.

“The witness said she did not know what transpired when Zara Qairina met the senior student, as she did not go to the room. The witness also told the court that the senior had never met Zara Qairina before, and only did so that night on July 15,” Ram Singh said.

Further sharing the testimony, Ram Singh said the witness added that Zara Qairina had never complained about personal problems, conflicts, or being disturbed in the hostel, such as bullying, academic pressure, or fatigue.

Ram Singh said the witness was also unsure whether Zara Qairina had conflicts with other students at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Agama Tun Datu Mustapha, Papar, adding that the witness had never seen Zara Qairina being scolded or disturbed by other students.

“The witness also told the court she had never seen anyone touch or act indecently towards Zara in the hostel room or at school,” he said.

Ram Singh said the witness also informed the court that Zara Qairina had once asked her whether she would feel sad if she jumped from the third floor.

“At that time, the witness said they were both in front of the room and Zara Qairina was looking down from the hostel corridor in a gloomy state… according to the witness, the incident happened around April 2025,” he said.

Meanwhile, lawyer Rizwandean M Borhan, who is representing Zara Qairina’s mother, shared the testimony of the seventh child witness, who said that on the night of July 15, Zara Qairina knocked on the door, greeted, and asked permission to enter before meeting a student about the theft case, and she appeared frightened.

Rizwandean said, according to the witness, four other students entered the room and one of them scolded Zara Qairina loudly while shouting profanities.

“The witness said the students who scolded Zara at that time were fierce, and the other students in the room did not dare to comfort her while she was crying,” he said, adding that the witness told the court Zara’s roommate had searched her locker and found a flag pin belonging to another student, which greatly angered the student.

The witness also told the court that Zara Qairina was a cheerful student who liked to talk and greet others kindly, and that she had aspired to join the Da'wah and Spiritual Body (BADAR).

Zara Qairina, 13, was confirmed dead at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Kota Kinabalu, on July 17, a day after being found unconscious in a drain near her school hostel.

So far, 16 witnesses, including eight children, have testified.

The inquest proceedings will continue next Tuesday.

-- BERNAMA