A TEACHER from Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Agama (SMKA) Tun Datu Mustapha has revealed the existence of original documents relating to the death of the late Zara Qairina Mahathir, kept within the school’s Discipline Unit files—information that had not previously been disclosed to police or the court.
The revelation stunned Coroner Amir Shah Amir Hassan during proceedings at the Kota Kinabalu Coroner’s Court yesterday.
The documents included written statements by students dated 17 July 2025, just two days after the incident involving Zara Qairina. Their existence had been unknown to investigators until now.
Lawyers representing Zara Qairina’s mother, Noraidah Lamat, said the information emerged during testimony by the 53rd witness, Nur Shukriah Mohd Fauzi.
“The witness said that the important document was never handed over to the police. The witness also stated that the document had never been disclosed by the teacher witnesses before, even though some of them were aware of its existence,” the legal team said.
Following the unexpected disclosure, the Coroner adjourned the inquiry to resume today for a mention.
He ordered all parties to obtain and review the documents and to discuss whether child witnesses or other students involved in the school’s internal investigation should be recalled.
Noraidah is represented by counsel Shahlan Jufri, Rizwandean M Borhan, Mohd Syarulnizam Mohd Salleh, Mohd Luqman Syazwan Zabidi, Farrah Nasser and Elhanan James. - November 26, 2025
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