LAWYERS for the mother of 13-year-old Zara Qairina Mahathir have challenged the integrity of the police investigation into the teenager’s death, saying it proceeded without a post-mortem or the collection of key evidence.
Hamid Ismail and Shahlan Jufri, representing Noraidah Lamat, said the investigation was “narrow in scope and limited in focus” because of serious shortcomings.
They noted that no post-mortem was conducted before Zara’s burial on 16 July and that police failed to seize the clothes and personal items she was wearing when she was found under the hostel building.
They also said Noraidah’s statement about bruises on her daughter’s back was only taken on 3 and 4 August, just before the investigation papers were sent to the Attorney General’s Chambers.
“We believe police did not have sufficient material to investigate this matter effectively because they do not have a post-mortem report, nor Zara’s clothes and personal belongings,” the lawyers said.
“Moreover, there were time constraints because the investigation report was sent to Putrajaya on 4 August 2025.”
The statement also condemned the spread of a “plot twist” narrative on social media suggesting Zara’s death was caused by emotional pressure from her mother.
This narrative, the lawyers said, appeared to come from the leak of a personal paper described online as Zara’s “diary,” which they said undermined the integrity of the probe.
“If that paper was part of Zara’s personal items taken from her locker by police after her death, that means someone leaked the contents of the investigation file to the public to create a malicious narrative and negative perception against Zara and her mother.
“As a result, the integrity of the investigation has been compromised,” the lawyers said.
They have formally written to the Attorney General seeking a fresh investigation by experienced Bukit Aman officers, an exhumation of Zara’s grave for a post-mortem, and an inquest under Section 339(1) of the Criminal Procedure Code to determine whether any crime was involved.
“Our client does not expect to ‘win’ in the investigation. She only wants justice for her daughter, Zara,” the lawyers said, adding that the family would hand over Zara’s clothes and belongings to police as requested.
The statement also thanked members of the public who organised peaceful student gatherings, fishing community petitions, and creative tributes, while urging Malaysians to avoid speculation that could result in defamation. - August 5, 2025
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