KOTA KINABALU: Investigating officer Inspector Wong Yew Zhung has told the Coroner's Court here that 200 witness statements were recorded throughout the investigation to complete the sudden death report in Zara Qairina Mahathir's case.
Wong said the witnesses included Zara Qairina's family members, neighbours, primary and secondary school friends, teachers, medical officers, police officers and students of the Rabiatul Adawiyah block girls' hostel at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Agama (SMKA) Tun Datu Mustapha, Papar.
The 83rd witness in the inquest proceedings into Zara Qairina's death said he had recorded all the statements with the assistance of police officers from the Sabah, Papar and Sipitang police headquarters.
"My investigation found that no witness personally saw the incident that led to Zara Qairina being found unconscious near the drain of the Rabiatul Adawiyah block hostel at SMKA TDM.
"Nobody, including security guards or hostel wardens, carried out patrols on Level 3 of the Rabiatul Adawiyah block on the night of the incident. My checks also found that no CCTV was installed in the hostel area," he said.
Wong also told the court that he checked with the school and hostel management to verify whether there had been any complaints of bullying involving Zara Qairina.
He said the checks found no record showing that Zara Qairina herself, her parents or guardians, had ever lodged any formal complaint with the school over bullying, assault or any other incidents.
Wong said he also reviewed the data extraction analysis from mobile phones seized during the investigation but was of the view that the analysis did not uncover any information or evidence that could help explain the circumstances or manner of Zara Qairina's death.
"Overall, my investigation covered the recording of testimony from various categories of witnesses, examination of the scene, checks with the school and hostel management, review of documents related to Zara Qairina, scrutiny of medical testimony and post-mortem exam findings, as well as analysis of digital evidence.
"All these actions were carried out to obtain a comprehensive picture of the circumstances and events that led to Zara Qairina being found unconscious and to identify any testimony or evidence that could assist the Coroner's Court in determining the cause, manner and how her death occurred," he said.
Zara Qairina died at Queen Elizabeth Hospital on July 17, 2025, a day after she was found unconscious near a drain at her school hostel at 4.00 am.
The inquest proceedings before Coroner Amir Shah Amir Hassan resume later this afternoon. – Bernama
