THE mother of the late Form One student Zara Qairina Mahathir is expected to provide her statement this week as the inquest into her daughter’s death enters a new phase at the Kota Kinabalu Coroner’s Court.
In addition to her testimony, three teachers from the school attended by the deceased are also scheduled to take the stand, according to information obtained by BH.
The family’s lawyer, Shahlan Jufri, confirmed that several educators will be called as witnesses. “We hope that the teachers who are testifying will present or provide a full report of the investigation conducted within the school,” he said.
The inquest, presided over by Coroner Amir Shah Amir Hassan, recently concluded a 36-day closed-door session involving evidence from 35 child witnesses.
The testimonies, which began on 22 September, were heard under the Child Witness Evidence Act 2007 (Amendment 2024). Media personnel were barred from the courtroom throughout these sessions to protect the identities of all minors involved, in line with statutory requirements prohibiting the publication of information that could reveal them.
Zara Qairina was confirmed dead at Queen Elizabeth Hospital on 17 July, a day after she was found unconscious at 4am in a drain near her school hostel.
The Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) announced on 13 August that an inquest would be convened after reviewing the police investigation report.
Earlier, on 8 August, the AGC ordered the exhumation of the teenager’s remains to enable a post-mortem examination.
Proceedings are expected to intensify in the coming days as adult witnesses begin providing evidence, marking a critical stage in determining the circumstances that led to the student’s death. - November 24, 2025
