KOTA KINABALU: The Coroner's Court here was told on Monday (Oct 13) that a group of senior students would confront students suspected of being involved in a theft case if it occurs at the hostel of SMK Agama Tun Datu Mustapha, Papar.
Lawyer Azhier Farhan Arisin, who is representing four children in the Zara Qairina bullying case, said this was told by a senior student who was the 11th child witness before Coroner Amir Shah Amir Hassan.
Azhier Farhan said that according to the witness, although she did not join the group of students, her room was often used by them because it was more spacious than other rooms in the hostel.
"According to the witness, throughout her acquaintance with the teenager, she found Zara Qairina to be a good person who likes to greet people as well as share food,” Azhier Farhan told reporters after the 21st day of the inquest proceedings, the same day.
"The witness also recalled that Zara Qairina was once called by senior students because of a problem related to a friend," he said.
The lawyer said the witness added that she herself had met Zara Qairina two to three times in the teenager's room and apologised on behalf of the senior student and persuaded her not to do anything wrong.
Meanwhile, lawyer Rizwandean M Borhan, who represented Zara Qairina's mother, said the witness told not only Zara Qairina but also met other junior students to apologise on behalf of the senior students after they were called by the group of students.
Rizwandean said the witness told him that she persuaded Zara Qairina after being called by the group of senior students because the witness had also experienced and been in the same situation as the teenager, and according to the witness, when she was a junior student as there was also a group of senior students who used to call and meet junior students.
Recounting the incident on the night of July 15, Rizwandean said the witness stated that she had heard from other students that Zara Qairina was called by several senior students on charges of theft between 10pm and 11pm. The witness added that she was told that other junior students had searched Zara Qairina's locker to find the missing item.
"The witness said that she went to the front of the room where Zara Qairina was questioned by senior students because she wanted to borrow shoes. The witness said it was past 11pm because the room lights had been turned off. The witness said that as she passed through the corridor in front of Zara Qairina's room, the witness saw a junior student uttering abusive words.
"She heard the tone of the junior student loud, clear and in an angry state. The witness also said that she had heard from other students that that night Zara Qairina was locked in the toilet. But the witness did not know what time it happened," he said.
Lawyer Joan Goh, who represents one of the teenagers involved in the Zara Qairina bullying case, said that the witness claimed that no incident of beating Zara Qairina had occurred.
Zara Qairina, 13, was confirmed dead at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Kota Kinabalu on July 17 after being found unconscious in a drain near her school dormitory at 4 am on July 16.
The inquest proceedings will continue on Tuesday. - Bernama
