Inquest Into Zara Qairina’s Death To Begin Sept 3

KOTA KINABALU, Aug 18 (Bernama) -- The Coroner's Court here has set Sept 3 to commence inquest proceedings for Form One student Zara Qairina Mahathir.

Coroner Azreena Aziz today scheduled the proceedings to run from Sept 3 to 4, Sept 8 to 12, Sept 17 to 19 and Sept 22 to 30.

Earlier, Conducting Officer Mohd Fairus Johari, who is also a Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP), said the Attorney General's Chambers (AGC) yesterday applied for an inquiry into the death of 13-year-old Zara Qairina.

He said 195 witnesses are involved in the case, but the final witness list will be determined before the inquest begins.

Azreena requested that the witness list be finalised at least two days before the start of proceedings.

Other Conducting Officers are Dana Arabi Wazani, Afiq Agoes and Dacia Jane Romanus, all of whom are also DPPs.

Zara Qairina was pronounced dead at Queen Elizabeth Hospital here on July 17.

She had been admitted to the hospital after being found unconscious in a drain near the dormitory of Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Agama (SMKA) Tun Datu Mustapha in Papar at 4 am on July 16.

In a statement last Wednesday, the AGC said an inquest would be conducted into Zara Qairina’s death after reviewing the investigation report submitted by police.

On Aug 8, the AGC said that the body of Zara Qairina would be exhumed to allow a post-mortem examination to be conducted.

The exhumation of Zara Qairina’s body at the Tanjung Ubi Muslim Cemetery, Kampung Mesapol, Sipitang, was completed at 7.15 pm on Aug 9.

-- BERNAMA