Inquest: Senior Student Admits Scolding, Shouting At Zara Qairina Before The Girl Was Found Unconscious

KOTA KINABALU, Oct 15 (Bernama) -- A senior student of Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Agama Tun Datu Mustapha, Papar, told the Coroner's Court here today that she scolded and shouted at Zara Qairina Mahathir with abusive words, the day before the teenager was found unconscious.

The student, who is the dormitory head and 14th witness, said this in her testimony on the 23rd day of the inquest into Zara Qairina's death before Coroner Amir Shah Amir Hassan.

Lawyer Shahlan Jufri, representing Zara Qairina's mother, said the witness told him that she became angry because Zara Qairina denied stealing her Malaysian flag pin, which was found in her (Zara Qairina) bag.

"The witness also confirmed that on the night of July 15, Zara Qairina was questioned by several senior students regarding the theft of her (14th witness) wallet, ATM card, cash and Malaysian flag pin.

"The witness said she only asked about the flag pin to Zara Qairina and not about the allegations of the loss of other junior students' belongings.

"The witness said Zara Qairina denied stealing the flag pin," said Shahlan when met by reporters after the proceedings.

Shahlan said the witness also told him that a junior student had sought permission to conduct a spot check on Zara Qairina’s locker and bag before later being told about the discovery of a flag pin inside her bag.

“The witness said she was unsure whether the pin was actually found in Zara Qairina’s bag. She said she allowed the junior student to carry out the check and confirmed that she was in the room at the time, but did not supervise the (junior) student doing the check,” he said.

 According to Shahlan, the witness also said that she had written the rules for the dormitory room under her supervision, one of which stated: “Do not swear even if you often hear others swearing”.

Meanwhile, lawyer Joan Goh, representing one of the teenagers involved in Zara Qairina’s case, said the witness stated that she did not hit Zara Qairina nor did she see anyone else hit the girl.

 Goh said that according to the witness, she saw Zara Qairina walking out of the room at about 12.30 am, but did not know where she went

“Shortly after that, when the witness was about to leave her room to go to another dormitory, a resident approached and told her that she had seen Zara Qairina crying in the third-floor toilet.

“The witness said she remained silent and continued to the other room to sleep with her friends,” said Goh.

Another lawyer,  Azhier Farhan Arisin, representing four teenagers involved in the case, said the witness told him that she did not know what happened to Zara Qairina before the girl was found unconscious and was only awakened at about 4 am by a teacher. 

Zara Qairina, 13, was confirmed dead at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, here on July 17, after being found unconscious in a drain near her school dormitory at 4 am on July 16.

The inquest proceedings continue tomorrow

-- BERNAMA