THE pathologist at the centre of the Zara Qairina Mahathir inquest has lodged a police report after being told by the Sabah hospital director that threats against her were circulating on social media.
Kota Kinabalu police chief Kasim Muda confirmed the report was filed by Dr Jessie Hiu, but declined to say when exactly it was lodged.
“We received the report from her yesterday afternoon. In it, Dr Jessie stated she had been informed by the hospital director about the threats,” Kasim was quoted as saying by several media outlets from Kota Kinabalu.
Dr Hiu, a senior consultant at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, had spent two days on the stand before the Coroner’s Court last week.
She was the lead pathologist who conducted the post-mortem on the 13-year-old after the teenager was found unconscious beneath her school dormitory in July 16.
In her testimony, she said Zara’s injuries were consistent with a fall from height, dismissing the possibility that the teen had either been pushed or assaulted.
She noted the dormitory wall was taller than Zara’s centre of gravity, making it improbable she could have simply toppled over.
Pressed further on the second day of proceedings, Hiu told lawyers it was likely for Zara to either climbed over the wall or swung herself across it.
A lawyer also raised the question of suicide, suggesting Zara could have bent under or clung onto a ceiling grill before her fall.
Hiu stopped short of confirming that, leaving it to the court to decide whether Zara’s death amounted to suicide.
Her testimony drew heavy criticism online, with some accusing her of giving conflicting conclusions over what led to Zara’s fall.
Five minors are currently facing charges of bullying in connection with the case at present.
Dr Hiu, 58, has been with Queen Elizabeth Hospital since 1998 and is regarded as one of Sabah’s most senior forensic experts. – September 6, 2025
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