Principal Denies Advising Zara S Mum Not To File Police Report

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Shaharoom Hashim says the school staff's immediate focus after Zara Qairina Mahathir was found was to get medical help.
Zara Qairina Mahathir, 13, died on July 17, a day after being found unconscious in a drain near her school’s hostel at 4am. (Facebook pic)PETALING JAYA: The principal of SMK Agama Tun Datu Mustapha has denied advising the mother of Zara Qairina Mahathir not to file a police report after the Form 1 student was found unconscious
Shaharoom Hashim, 51, told the coroner’s court in Kota Kinabalu that she had only informed Zara’s mother, Noraidah Lamat, that the school had already lodged a police report, Sinar Harian reported.
“When Zara’s mum arrived, we were allowed to visit Zara in the ward. At the time, (Noraidah) was going in and out, accompanied by other officers.
“Then she came to me and said people had advised her to file a police report. So I only mentioned that the school had already filed a report, that’s all,” she said while being cross-examined by lawyer Shahlan Jufri, who is representing Noraidah.
Shaharoom also told the inquest into Zara’s death that she did not order any dormitory warden to contact the police after the student was found as their focus was on saving her life.
She had believed that the child’s injuries were severe and that the more pressing need was to seek medical assistance, Daily Express reported.
The principal said she had contacted Zara’s family and notified the district education office and state education department while waiting for the ambulance to arrive.
Shaharoom said she was at the hospital after that and did not know who had instructed two students to clean up the area where Zara was found.
Previously, dormitory security guard Linah Mansoding @ Jaliha told the inquest that the head warden known as “Ustaz Azhari” had ordered two 16-year-old students to clean the bloodstains where Zara was found unconscious on July 16.
Zara, 13, died on July 17 at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, where she had been admitted a day earlier after being found unconscious in a drain near her school’s hostel at 4am.
The inquest before coroner Amir Shah Amir Hassan continues. - FMT

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