WITNESS ADMITS TAKING ZARA QAIRINA TO ANOTHER ROOM TO ALLOW SPOT CHECK

KOTA KINABALU, Nov 6 (Bernama) -- A witness told the Coroner’s Court here today that she had taken Zara Qairina Mahathir to another room to allow an inspection of the deceased’s wardrobe and belongings on the night of July 15.

The testimony was given by the 29th witness, a student of Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Agama Tun Datu Mustapha in Papar, on the 33rd day of the inquest into Zara Qairina’s death before Coroner Amir Shah Amir Hassan.

Lawyer Mohd Syarulnizam Mohd Salleh, who represents Zara Qairina’s mother, shared the witness’s testimony and said the girl acted in such a manner after several other dormitory students decided to conduct a surprise inspection of the deceased’s belongings, following the loss of money, flag pins and clothes in the dormitory.

He said that when Zara Qairina was already in another room, the witness left her there with the junior students and then returned to Zara Qairina’s dorm room.

He added that the witness had also asked the junior students to keep Zara Qairina occupied for a while so that they could carry out a spot check in the dormitory without her knowledge.

“The witness said that when she checked Zara Qairina’s bag, she found a flag pin belonging to a senior student, and another flag pin belonging to a junior student in Zara Qairina’s trouser pocket. The witness then handed the flag pin to the senior student,” said the lawyer when met by reporters after the proceedings.

Mohd Syarulnizam said that after the spot check in Zara Qairina’s room, the witness went to another room, where she saw several senior students gathered around Zara Qairina, but did not intervene and went downstairs to iron her clothes.

He said that after finishing ironing, the witness saw that Zara Qairina had returned to her room and found her crying and shouting “Aku nda curi ba” (I did not steal) in a state of distress.

“The witness said that no one dared to comfort Zara Qairina at that time, including herself, as she was afraid to approach the deceased when she was angry.

“The witness also said that she had never seen Zara Qairina being physically bullied but admitted there was an atmosphere of ridicule and sarcasm among some senior and junior students towards the deceased,” he said.

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

The inquest proceedings will continue tomorrow.

-- BERNAMA