THE Kota Kinabalu Coroner’s Court was told that expert witnesses will be called to testify in the ongoing inquest into the death of 13-year-old Zara Qairina Mahathir, as proceedings move into a new phase focused on specialist analysis.
Counsel Rizwandean M. Borhan, representing the victim’s mother, said six expert witnesses have been identified so far, with more potentially to follow.
Among those expected to testify are handwriting and document examiners Dr Linthini Gannetion, Dr Tay Eue Kam and Dr Dzulkiflee Ismail, as well as forensic science expert Dr Wan Nur Syuhaila Mat Desa. Child psychologist Dr Noor Aishah Rosli and psychiatrist Dr Wong Haw Huo are also set to appear.
Rizwandean said additional witnesses, including members of the victim’s family, will also be called.
“After the 70th witness, Dr Chua will be called again as we have yet to question him. Following that, we will call our expert witnesses. This will be the first time we present our experts. We have informed the Coroner, and there is a high possibility of 10 or 11 (expert) witnesses,” Bernama reported him saying today.
He added that forensic psychiatrist consultant Dr Chua Sze Hung, who previously testified as the 67th witness, will be recalled when the inquest resumes in May.
Earlier in the hearing, the 70th witness, Royal Malaysia Police Computer Crime Investigation Unit analyst Mohamad Zaidi Abu, presented images of WhatsApp conversations extracted from a mobile phone labelled WF11 before Coroner Amir Shah Amir Hassan.
The analyst also displayed the messages in court and explained the process used to extract and analyse the digital evidence.
His testimony, conducted under questioning by Deputy Public Prosecutor Sofia S Sawayan, has yet to conclude and will continue at the next hearing.
Zara Qairina died on July 17, 2025, at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, a day after she was found unconscious in a drain near her school dormitory in the early hours of the morning.
The Attorney General's Chambers ordered an inquest on August 13, 2025, after reviewing the police investigation, following an earlier directive to exhume the body for a post-mortem examination.
Proceedings are scheduled to resume on May 18 as the court continues to examine the circumstances surrounding her death. - April 17, 2026
