KOTA KINABALU: The death of Zara Qairina Mahathir after an apparent fall from her hostel remains puzzling with her mother lodging a second police report over the bruises on her body and lawyers claiming her clothes were not forensically analysed.
These developments came a day after her mother sought to exhume the girl’s body to conduct a post-mortem, following news that investigations had been completed and the case to be sent to the Attorney General’s Chambers for a decision.
Religious teacher Noraidah Lamat, 45, is seeking answers about the injuries she saw on her daughter’s back when she was bathing the body for burial on July 17 at Hospital Queen Elizabeth I here.
“Our client did not include this important fact in her previous police report because she had overlooked it. She forgot to highlight the bruises because she was grieving,” said Noraidah’s lawyers Hamid Ismail and Shahlan Jufri in a joint statement.
They said Noraidah recounted the bruises when they questioned her on Saturday afternoon regarding the condition of her daughter’s body during the funeral rites.
A day before Zara Qairina died, she was found unconscious at around 3am at her school dormitory in Papar district.
The lawyers also claimed yesterday that the clothes last worn by her had not been taken for forensic testing.
“Based on our knowledge, the police would seize items worn by a victim whose death was suspected to be the result of a criminal act for their investigation.”
The lawyers said Zara Qairina’s clothes and personal belongings were handed over to her mother by the hospital on July 16.
“Until today, the police have not taken or requested from our client to obtain the items for the purpose of investigation.
“We are of the opinion that the investigation papers sent to the Attorney General’s Chambers are incomplete, not comprehensive and have a narrow focus.
“What’s more, no autopsy was conducted before Zara’s burial,” they added.
In thanking Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for his concern, the lawyers are hoping the Attorney General would return the investigation papers to the police and request a post-mortem and inquest.
The lawyers noted a statement by Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail on Saturday that police investigation into the case has been completed and the investigation papers would be submitted to the Attorney General’s Chambers.
“However, the latest developments justify the reopening of investigation,” the lawyers said.
The second report was lodged at the Sipitang police station.
Noraidah’s previous report was made on July 30.
Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Jauteh Dikun said the police will look into the latest report by the mother.
