CHILD TESTIMONIES END IN ZARA QAIRINA INQUEST, TEACHERS AND PRINCIPAL NEXT - CONDUCTING OFFICER

KOTA KINABALU, Nov 12 (Bernama) -- The Coroner’s Court today concluded the in-camera testimonies of 35 child witnesses in the inquest into the death of Form One student Zara Qairina Mahathir.

The child witnesses, who began giving their testimonies on Sept 22 behind closed doors pursuant to the Evidence of Child Witness Act 2007 (Amendment 2024), completed their testimonies before Coroner Sessions Court Judge Amir Shah Amir Hassan, on the 36th day of the inquest proceedings.

Throughout the in-camera proceedings, media personnel were barred from the courtroom to protect the identities of the witnesses, in line with the Act, which expressly forbids the publication of any details that may identify a minor.

Deputy public prosecutor Mohd Fairuz Johari, who is the inquest's conducting officer, confirmed that the last child witness had finished testifying.

According to him, the inquest hearing will resume next Monday, with nine teachers and the principal of Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Agama Tun Datu Mustapha, Papar, expected to testify.

Zara Qairina, 13, was pronounced dead at Queen Elizabeth Hospital on July 17. She had been admitted a day earlier after being found unconscious in a drain near her school dormitory at 4 am.

On Aug 13, the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) announced that an inquest would be conducted into her death after reviewing the police investigation report.

Earlier, on Aug 8, the AGC ordered the exhumation of Zara Qairina's remains to allow for a post-mortem examination.

-- BERNAMA