KOTA KINABALU: The Coroner's Court holding an inquest into the death of Zara Qairina Mahathir was told that the girl appeared to be emotional after returning from dormitory room A3-6 on the night of July 15.
The testimony was given by the 27th witness, who was Zara Qairina’s dormitory mate at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Agama Tun Datu Mustapha, Papar, on the 31st day of the inquest proceedings on Thursday (Oct 30).
Sharing details of the witness’s statement, lawyer Joan Goh, representing one of the students involved in Zara Qairina’s case, said the witness recounted hearing someone from the adjacent room calling out to Zara Qairina to come to room A3-6.
”Later, the witness learned that Zara Qairina had been accused of stealing a student’s bank card and was called to meet a Form Four senior in the adjacent dormitory room. The witness, however, did not know the identity of the senior who met Zara Qairina that night.
"When Zara Qairina returned to room A3-5 at around 11pm, the witness saw her in an emotional state... lying on the floor and crying in front of her cupboard,” Goh said when met by reporters after the proceedings.
Goh added that it was the first time the witness had seen Zara Qairina in such distress and that the Form One student had never complained of personal problems, academic pressure, or harassment from other students.
She said the witness often saw Zara Qairina writing in her purple and green diary, including about her desire to become a member of Badar (the school’s surau supervisory body).
"The witness had no conflict with Zara Qairina. In fact, she was among the students who conducted a spot check on Zara Qairina’s locker, during which she found the (missing) flag pin,” Goh added.
Zara Qairina, 13, was confirmed dead at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, here on July 17, after being found unconscious in a drain near her school dormitory at 4am on July 16.
The inquest proceedings before Coroner Amir Shah Amir Hassan continue on Nov 5. - Bernama
