No Warden On Duty Night Zara Found Unconscious – Ex Student Affairs Senior Assistant

KOTA KINABALU, Dec 4 (Bernama) -- Under cross-examination at the Coroner's Court here today, the former senior assistant for Student Affairs at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Agama (SMKA) Tun Datu Mustapha testified that no hostel warden was on duty on the night Zara Qairina Mahathir was found unconscious.

Asni Marjan, 56, who has been stationed at the District Education Office since October, testified that the warden appointed by the State Education Department (JPN), with an allowance, was also not on duty that day. 

Asni confirmed that the school administration had appointed several teachers as unpaid hostel supervisors, adding that he was not consulted on the preparation of the monthly duty roster for these wardens and supervisors. 

The 57th witness was being questioned by deputy public prosecutor (DPP) and Inquest Officer, Mohd Fairuz Johari, during the inquest into Zara Qairina's death before Coroner Amir Shah Amir Hassan.

When Mohd Fairuz questioned how unpaid teachers could perform duties equivalent to those of a salaried warden, Asni replied that it was ‘based on a sense of duty’.

Asni continued that he was uncertain whether the head hostel warden, Rezany Mohd Taupek, was appointed by JPN or the school administration.

When DPP Mohd Fairuz presented Rezany’s letter of appointment, Asni confirmed that the appointment was invalid, as Rezany was not a JPN appointee but had instead been appointed by the school administration.

In earlier proceedings, security guard Lina Mansoding @ Jaliha, 65, testified that she was the one who discovered Zara Qairina after being alerted by a student, saying she informed the head warden of the incident via a phone call.

During today’s proceedings, Asni explained that he typically monitored warden duties through a logbook but could not recall any entries recorded for July 15, the night of the incident.

Regarding the events of July 16, Asni testified that he did not proceed to the location after receiving a call from the head warden around 3.25 am.

He had entrusted the warden to manage the situation and went directly to the hospital later.

“As I recall, I only went to the incident site on the third day. Following the dawn prayer on July 16, I was at the hospital until the evening.

“The next morning, there was a meeting, and I focused on consoling the parents. For the record, right up until my transfer to the District Education Office, I met with the student’s mother and father nearly every day… I did not neglect my duties,” he said, his voice breaking with emotion.

Regarding the disconnection of the hostel’s public telephone for 48 hours following the incident, the witness said he did not know who instructed the head warden to take such action.

Concerning the internal investigation conducted by the school’s disciplinary unit, Asni said he was unaware of how many times it was carried out. The only finding communicated to him was related to meetings between the deceased and senior students.

When questioned by lawyer Shahlan Jufri, representing Zara Qairina’s mother, the witness confirmed that he did meet the victim’s mother on the day of the incident at the hospital, as well as on the night of the funeral and during a condolence visit to the family home.

Shahlan: Did you inform Zara Qairina’s mother about the school's internal investigation?

Asni: No. The case was, and remains, under investigation. We had to proceed with caution.

Zara Qairina, 13, died on July 17 at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, where she had been admitted a day earlier after being found unconscious near a drain at her school hostel in Papar at 4 am.

The Attorney General's Chambers ordered her remains exhumed for a post-mortem on Aug 8, before announcing a formal inquest into her death on Aug 13.

The inquest proceedings will resume tomorrow.

-- BERNAMA