KUALA LUMPUR: Preliminary fndings from the recent post-mortem of 13-year-old student Zara Qairina Mahathir show that she died from traumatic brain injuries as originally diagnosed by doctors, says Bukit Aman.
Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department (CID) director Comm Datuk M. Kumar said while the injuries were consistent with those sustained from a fall, the lack of an initial post-mortem was against set protocols.
He said an internal investigation will now be conducted on the investigation officer and the supervisor in the case.
“There was an agreement with the victim’s mother, who signed a document for a post-mortem not to be carried out. The document was also signed by the pathologist and the investigating officer.
“Despite this, however, the investigating officer should have insisted on a post-mortem as her death was under suspicious circumstances. The lack of post-mortem is clearly against our SOP,” he told a special press conference in Bukit Aman yesterday.
Comm Kumar said under the law, the investigating officer has the legal provision to overwrite the mother’s wish.
Zara Qairina was found unconscious in a drain at 4am on July 16 near her school hostel in Papar, Sabah. She was later pronounced dead at Hospital Queen Elizabeth on July 17.
Preliminary findings from the post-mortem, said Comm Kumar, tallies with the initial diagnosed cause of death.
“The findings have been thoroughly explained to Zara Qairina’s family and their lawyers.
“At the time of the initial diagnosis of the cause of death, the doctors stated that the death was due to severe traumatic brain injuries with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy,” he added.
Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy is a kind of injury when the brain does not get enough oxygen (hypoxia) or blood flow (ischemia).
“The injuries discovered are consistent with the previous finding and with those sustained from a fall,” he said.
Previously, Zara Qairina’s mother Noraidah Lamat had lodged a police report saying that she found bruises on her body during the bathing of the deceased.
Comm Kumar said the inquest announced by the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) into Zara’s death will run concurrently with the police’s own investigations into other elements, including possible criminal causes. He said so far, criminal investigations by the special task force have led to statements alleging bullying.
“There were statements claiming that bullying had occurred before the incident. Before this, we did not have special legal provisions for bullying but on July 11, this provision has been enforced to combat bullying cases.
“Investigations are still ongoing and it will be referred to the AGC in the near future.
“I give you all my assurance. There will be justice,” he said, adding that the police will meet with the AGC soon to discuss the inquest, possibly next week.
On Tuesday, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said warned that bullying, harassment, insults and identity misuse, even online, were now crimes under amendments to the Penal Code.
The Penal Code (Amendment) Act 2025 was approved by the King on Feb 25 and gazetted on March 7.
Comm Kumar said interventions will also be carried out at Zara Qairina’s school, SMKA Tun Datu Mustapha, to help students affected by mental health issues following her death.
“A total of 124 students are going through the intervention process, including psychiatric assistance, to help them through this,” he said.
On another matter, Comm Kumar said a 39-year-old woman was detained in Rawang for spreading fake news regarding the death of Zara Qairina.
“She claimed the victim was put into a washing machine. We detained the suspect in Rawang last week. The case is being investigated under the Sedition Act and Section 233 of the Communication and Multimedia Act.”
Comm Kumar said the case is among 15 investigation papers opened over fake news in connection with Zara Qairina’s death.
“We have to take stern action on fake news as it could disrupt public order and the investigation process,” he added.
