THE inquest into the death of 13-year-old student Zara Qairina Mahathir resumes today at the Kota Kinabalu Coroner’s Court, with the next phase expected to centre on testimony from teachers at her boarding school in Papar.
Shahlan Jufri, counsel representing Zara Qairina’s mother, told BH that several teachers from Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Agama Tun Datu Mustapha will be called to give evidence.
“These witnesses include the teachers who found the diary and 15 sheets of paper said to belong to Zara Qairina,” he said.
Shahlan added that between 30 and 40 additional witnesses may be summoned as the inquiry progresses.
“From my assessment, other witnesses likely to be called may include several experts engaged by our side,” he noted.
When asked when Zara Qairina’s mother, Noraidah Lamat, would take the stand, Shahlan said the timing remains uncertain.
“Zara Qairina’s mother will certainly be called to testify, but her turn has not yet been determined. The prosecution is also expected to call a psychologist and a psychiatrist. Our team will similarly call expert witnesses once the prosecution has completed its evidence,” he said.
Last Wednesday, the Coroner’s Court concluded its in-camera sessions after hearing from 35 child witnesses.
The testimonies, which began on 22 September before Coroner Amir Shah Amir Hassan, were conducted under the Child Witness Evidence Act 2007 (Amendment 2024) and spanned 36 days.
Media personnel were barred from the courtroom throughout the closed-door proceedings to protect the identities of all child witnesses, in line with legal provisions prohibiting the publication of any information that could reveal who they are.
Zara Qairina died at Queen Elizabeth Hospital on 17 July after being found unconscious in a drain near her school dormitory at 4 a.m. the previous day.
On 13 August, the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) announced that an inquest would be held after reviewing the police investigation report.
Earlier, on 8 August, the AGC ordered the exhumation of Zara’s remains to allow for a fresh post-mortem examination.
The inquest is expected to continue with further witness testimonies in the coming days as the court seeks to determine the circumstances surrounding the teenager’s death. - November 17, 2025
