KOTA KINABALU: The Coroner's Court was told Wednesday (Oct 14) that there were no VIPs, VVIPs or politicians with family ties to the five female teenagers implicated in the bullying case involving Zara Qairina Mahathir.
Investigating officer Insp Wong Yew Zhung said this was based on the investigations conducted by his team, which found no evidence of such a situation.
Ahmad Fikry Jaafar Abdullah, lawyer representing four of the teenagers implicated in the case, asked Wong whether his investigations had found any VIPs, VVIPs or politicians related to the five juvenile offenders identified as A, B, C, D and E.
Wong replied: "None."
Ahmad Fikry then asked whether Wong had found any evidence that a VVIP, VIP or politician had provided protection, used influence or taken any action to help the five teenagers evade legal action in the case.
Wong replied: "None."
The 83rd witness in the inquest said the police had not received any report alleging that Zara Qairina had been murdered or injured by anyone, nor any police report or information indicating that she had been struck with a blunt object.
He said none of Zara Qairina's family members had told him that the Form One student had been bullied by senior students. No witnesses had come forward to say she had been bullied to the point of causing her death, while medical examinations had not indicated injuries of a criminal nature.
Asked by Ahmad Fikry whether the injuries sustained by the student were consistent with a fall from a height, based on evidence from Queen Elizabeth Hospital forensic pathologist Dr Jessie Hiu, Wong replied: "Correct."
Wong also agreed with Dr Hiu's opinion that Zara Qairina's legs sustained the first impact, while the injuries to her body and head resulted from subsequent impacts.
Wong acknowledged that, as a police officer, he had the authority to direct a hospital to conduct a post-mortem even if the victim's family objected, but said this applied only when the investigation indicated elements of a criminal offence.
He said he had asked Zara Qairina's family whether they wanted a post-mortem, but they declined.
Ahmad Fikry: In short, when you asked Zara's family whether they wanted a post-mortem, you found no elements of a criminal offence that would make a post-mortem mandatory. Am I correct?
Wong: Correct.
Ahmad Fikry: Therefore, since there were absolutely no elements of a criminal offence at the time, you considered that a post-mortem was not mandatory for Zara. Am I correct?
Wong: Correct.
Ahmad Fikry: So, you did not simply refuse to make a post-mortem mandatory for Zara when you asked her family. Am I correct?
Wong: Correct.
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 in the early hours of the morning. - Bernama
