KOTA KINABALU: Court proceedings will start today to fix a date for the inquest into Zara Qairina Mahathir’s death.
Counsel Hamid Ismail, representing Zara Qairina’s mother Noraidah Lamat, said that the mention of the case is fixed for 9am at the Kota Kinabalu Court.
On Aug 13, the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) ordered an inquest into Zara Qairina’s death following a post-mortem after reviewing the police investigation report submitted on Aug 12.
It said that the inquest would be conducted under Section 339(1) of the Criminal Procedure Code to determine the cause and circumstances of her death, including if there were any criminal elements involved.
The AGC added that the process would be handled by the Coroner’s Court independently and transparently in accordance with the law.
Meanwhile, Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department director Comm Datuk M. Kumar said the investigation paper prepared by the special task force will be handed over to the AGC today.
He said a total of 195 people, including teachers, students and wardens, have had their statements recorded.
“Police investigation focused on two elements, which is from the inquest aspect and from other criminal angles, including bullying and the spread of fake news,” Comm Kumar said in a statement.
He reiterated that the investigation was done without fear or favour.
Previously, Comm Kumar said Zara Qairina’s post-mortem results showed that she died from a traumatic brain injury as originally diagnosed by doctors.
He said that while the injuries were consistent with those sustained from a fall, the lack of an initial post-mortem was against standard procedures.
Comm Kumar said an internal probe will now be conducted on the three senior police officers involved in the preliminary investigation.
Zara Qairina, 13, 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.
