Agc Studying Legal Elements Of Police Probe Into Zara S Death

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The Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) is examining a comprehensive preliminary investigation report from the police on the death of teenager Zara Qairina Mahathir.
In a statement today, the AGC said that the report was submitted on Aug 3 and 4 to its Sabah branch and Putrajaya headquarters, respectively.
"In connection with this, the department is conducting an in-depth examination of the comprehensive preliminary investigation report.
"This research process encompasses all legal aspects and facts presented to ensure that every decision taken is based on legislation and fulfils the principles of justice.
ADS“Any decisions concerning this case will be announced once the process of examining the comprehensive preliminary investigation report has been completed,” it said.
It added that the department values the cooperation of all parties and also urged the public to refrain from making speculations that could jeopardise the investigation and justice.
On Saturday, Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail confirmed that police have wrapped up their probe into the death of the Form One student from SMK Agama Tun Datu Mustapha in Papar, Sabah.
According to Saifuddin, the authority had recorded statements from around 60 witnesses.
Claims of police failure
A legal team representing Zara’s family had disputed that police had done all that was necessary to determine what had happened to the victim, who died after being found unconscious in a drain near the school hostel.
They said the police had failed to take Zara’s personal effects and the clothing she was wearing during the incident as evidence.
In a statement, lawyers Hamid Ismail and Shahlan Jufri said the Queen Elizabeth I Hospital in Kota Kinabalu had surrendered the items to Zara’s mother on July 16, who then put them in the custody of an NGO representative appointed to represent the mother.
However, according to the lawyers, police had neither seized the items nor contacted Zara’s mother to obtain them for investigation.
Prior to this, Zara’s mother, Noraidah Lamat, reportedly appointed the two lawyers to begin the process of exhuming her daughter’s grave for a post-mortem.
Zara was found with severe injuries at her school dormitory at around 3am on July 16.
Initial reports stated she had fallen from the third floor of the building. She died the following day at the hospital.
Police have not ruled out the possibility of bullying and have referred the case to Bukit Aman for a more comprehensive analysis. - Mkini

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